An anti-Israel protester has killed an elderly Jewish pro-Israel man at an anti-Israel rally in Los Angeles, which occurred simultaneously with a pro-Israel one.
A Jewish man has died after a pro-Palestinian protester struck him in the head with a megaphone on Sunday, according to the local Jewish federation.
The altercation occurred at a pro-Palestinian protest on Sunday that assembles weekly in Westlake Village in the Los Angeles area. According to a statement by the Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles and a police report, the man, Paul Kessler, 69, was struck in the head with a megaphone held by one of the protesters and died of his wounds on Monday.
A statement Monday night from the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office ruled the death a homicide and confirmed many of the details in the federation’s statement. The police statement said Kessler “died as a result of injuries sustained during an altercation at a Pro-Israeli/Pro-Palestinian event, both of which were occurring simultaneously.” Elsewhere, the Sheriff’s Office describes Kessler as a “pro-Israeli protester.”
“Witness accounts indicated that Kessler was involved in a physical altercation with counter-protestor(s),” the statement said. “During the altercation, Kessler fell backwards and struck his head on the ground.”
A brief video circulating on social media shows an elderly man in a blue-and-white striped short-sleeve shirt and jeans lying on a sidewalk and clutching his head in a pool of blood. A woman wearing pro-Palestinian symbols crouches down to tend to him, as does another man wearing nearly the same outfit as Kessler. An Israeli flag is leaning against a nearby wall.
JTA calls to the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office and Misaskim, a local group that assists with Jewish burial, were not immediately returned. “We are devastated to learn of the tragic death of an elderly Jewish man who was struck in the head by a megaphone wielded by a pro-Palestinian protestor in Westlake Village,” the federation statement says. “Our hearts are with the family of the victim.”
This is the last photo taken of Paul Kessler, reportedly just 5 minutes before he was struck down:
There are photos of the alleged murderer being shared on social media. I will not share them here because two completely different individuals have been identified as such. Let’s wait until someone has been formally charged before shining a light on them.
As for the reactions of the anti-Israel crowd to Paul’s death, they seem to have mirrored their reactions to the October 7 massacre – indifference coupled with more anti-Israel chants, as his blood – not yet dry -remained visible in front of them:
Anti-Israel protesters resume chanting as Paul Kessler is taken away in an ambulance.
— Christina Buttons (@buttonslives) November 7, 2023
“As a man is being taken away on an ambulance for being knocked unconscious… this is the kind of respect these Palestinian protesters are giving.” — source from the scene of the deadly attack. pic.twitter.com/BLBoOhXoO9
That includes the female Israel-hater supposedly expressing some concern as Paul lay dying on the ground:
An anti-Israel protester appears to show concern for Paul Kessler by placing a sign she was carrying (which says she’s a pediatrician) under his bleeding head. However, minutes later, she can be seen and heard smiling and laughing in a video taken by a source at the scene. pic.twitter.com/y0fjYOsBMD
— Christina Buttons (@buttonslives) November 7, 2023
Not that we should expect sympathy from those who justify Hamas atrocities and saw Paul as just a “crusty old racist white man”
The victim allegedly captured his attack on video, but the video was taken into evidence by the police and is not currently available to the public.
— Christina Buttons (@buttonslives) November 7, 2023
Here’s an Instagram post advertising the Sunday protest in Westlake Village that turned deadly. pic.twitter.com/OCQGkGN1BM
It was only a matter of time before these supporters of the murderers of Jewish men, women and children would emulate their heroes. We need to make sure they are prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law, but also be on our guard at all times.
