Jewish man’s death at pro-Palestinian and pro-Israeli rallies in Southern California ruled a homicide by authorities

Authorities in Southern California have ruled the death of a 69-year-old Jewish man at pro-Israeli and pro-Palestinian demonstrations in Thousand Oaks on Sunday a homicide. Paul Kessler died after suffering a head injury during an altercation at the protests. He was found injured and taken to the hospital, where he later died.
The altercation involved at least one counterprotester, and Kessler fell backward, hitting his head on the ground. There were multiple parties who attempted to help Kessler after the incident. A hate crime has not been ruled out as the authorities continue to investigate.
Kessler’s death, amidst a rise in antisemitic incidents, has left the Jewish community in dismay. The Anti-Defamation League reported a nearly 400% increase in antisemitic incidents since Hamas attacked Israel on October 7, and FBI director Christopher Wray also reported that antisemitism had reached historic levels in the United States. The Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles has expressed its sympathy for Kessler’s family, condemning violence against the Jewish community and vowing to prevent it.
Community leaders, such as Rabbi Michael Barclay, are urging patience as the investigation unfolds. He stressed the importance of allowing authorities to complete their investigation without jumping to conclusions. Authorities have asked anyone with videos of the incident to share them with the police.
It remains unclear if Kessler’s death is directly tied to antisemitism, but it has highlighted the need to address violence against members of the Jewish community. The situation is still developing, and the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office is seeking information on what transpired at the demonstration.