It’s almost like so-called “peace” activists aren’t really all that peaceful.
SAN FRANCISCO (JTA) — A 22-year-old Jewish woman was assaulted at a pro-Palestinian rally in Oakland, Calif., last week after writing “Am Yisrael Chai” in chalk on the sidewalk.
The incident, which was captured on video, took place at a March 13 rally held at the Frank Ogawa Plaza to mark the fourth anniversary of the wounding of Tristan Anderson, an Oakland resident injured in the West Bank while protesting against the Israeli military.
In the video, Hannah Larson, a Seattle native who immigrated to Israel in 2010, can be seen seen writing on the ground in an area set aside for chalk-written slogans; the words “Freedom to Speak” appear on the ground nearby.
When Larson spelled out the Hebrew phrase that translates as “The Jewish people live” or “The nation of Israel lives,” a young woman later identified as Gabby Silverman of Oakland grabbed the chalk from Larson’s hand, cursing and repeatedly shoving Larson. Silverman also called Larson a “whore.”
Others quickly joined the fracas, and Larson was pushed to the street, away from the rally. Friends of Larson filmed the encounter.