Key takeaways:
- 69-year-old Jewish man, Paul Kessler, died after a confrontation between pro-Israel and pro-Palestinian demonstrations in Thousand Oaks, CA
- The Ventura County Sheriff’s Department is investigating the death as a homicide and haven’t ruled out the possibility of a hate crime
- The Jewish Federation released a statement condemning violence against their people and the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office is asking for anyone with information to contact them
A 69-year-old Jewish man died Monday after falling and striking his head following a confrontation the previous day during competing pro-Israel and pro-Palestinian demonstrations in suburban Los Angeles, authorities said.
The Ventura County Sheriff’s Office identified the man as Paul Kessler, a pro-Israel protester. He was injured shortly before 3:30 p.m. Sunday during competing demonstrations in Thousand Oaks, a city of about 125,000 northwest of Los Angeles.
The Ventura County Sheriff’s Department said that they received reports that a battery had occurred and deputies sent to the scene found Kessler suffering from a head wound. They claimed a pro-Palestinian protester struck him with a megaphone during an “antisemitic crime.”
Kessler’s death is being investigated as a homicide and authorities haven’t ruled out the possibility a hate crime occurred. The Jewish Federation released a statement saying, “Violence against our people has no place in civilized society.”
The Ventura County Sheriff’s Office is asking anyone with information about the incident to contact them. They are also asking for any video or photos of the incident that may have been taken. The investigation is ongoing.
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