A group of approximately 20 pro-Palestinian protesters attacked a man speaking Hebrew at Santa Monica Pier earlier this month.
Ariel Yaakov Marciano, the cousin of murdered Gaza hostage, Guy Illouz, whose body remains in Hamas terror captivity in the Gaza Strip, described the event to Jewish Journal, a Jewish community outlet for the Greater Los Angeles area, where Santa Monica is located.
He explained to the outlet that he was visiting Los Angeles for his cousin's bar mitzvah when he noticed the demonstrators. He was wearing a Star of David necklace and speaking to an Israeli from Las Vegas that he had met in Hebrew, recounting that "they realized we were Israeli."
"At that point, they attacked me. One of them hit me on the back of the head, and I started bleeding. Others pushed me around and tore the necklace off my neck. I pushed one of the masked attackers, and then they all jumped on me," he told the outlet.
He claimed that on his way to the police station, while shouting “God bless Israel,” he was pepper-sprayed by one of the protesters.
He alleged that the police "didn't do anything, but I can't really blame them," as there were "too many demonstrators and there's nothing much the police can do against so many."
He also alleged that a tall "black guy held a knife" against him, and told him "You're lucky I'm not stabbing you."
Marciano added that he has no intention of hiding his Jewish identity, as he has lost one cousin since October 7, 2023, and another during Operation Protective Edge, in the summer of 2014.
He also told the outlet that approximately three hours after the assault, during which the Star of David chain was torn from his neck, he was sitting in a restaurant when a Chinese man approached him and returned his necklace.
Police are 'deeply troubled,' attack has 'no place in Santa Monica'
The Santa Monica Police Department released a statement shortly after the event, commenting that they are "deeply troubled by an act of violence...where a man was surrounded, assaulted, and singled out because of his religious identity."
The police department added that they are investigating the event as a hate crime, and condemned all forms of hate and antisemitism, adding that the investigation remains active and that detectives are reviewing video footage and pursuing leads.
In turn, the Anti-Defamation League (ADL)'s California chapter also condemned the event.
"In America, targeting Israelis and Jews for violence is Abhorrent and a hate crime," Interim ADL Los Angeles Regional Director Peter Levi said.
"We are experiencing a deplorable escalation of antisemitism across Southern California, warranting the immediate attention of law enforcement, community leaders, and elected officials. We call on everyone to take a stand against the violence and intimidation targeting our community," he added.