Violent San Jose attack in Santana Row investigated as antisemitic hate crime, police say
Police in San Jose have launched a hate crime investigation following an assault at the Santana Row over the weekend.
Shortly before 3:40 p.m. Sunday, officers were called to the shopping and residential district on reports of a fight. A preliminary investigation determined that two men were approached by a group of three adult male suspects. Police said an altercation occurred, which became physical.
"I don't know where it came from or why," said one of the victims when asked what may have prompted the attack.
The men say they had no previous interactions with the suspects and were just suddenly attacked. The victims are Israeli and were speaking Hebrew while walking to a restaurant, and they're concerned that's why they may have been targeted.
The victims didn't want to be identified by name out of fear of retaliation. Video captured by bystanders shows three men in black shirts repeatedly hitting the victims.
"There was a remark at the beginning, something about Jews," one of the victims said. "I heard 'F' Jew. I don't know from who exactly."
The suspects fled the scene before officers arrived. Both of the victims were taken to the hospital and released, but said they're still dealing with their injuries.
"I got knocked out," said one man. "I got unconscious for a few seconds."
"I got a lot of head injuries, a lot of bumps, bruises here, behind my ear," said the other man. "I still cannot chew. I got beat up a lot. My stomach. My back. My head. I got thrown down on my back very badly."
Ambassador Marco Sermoneta, who is the Consul General of Israel to the Pacific Northwest, issued a statement calling on Gov. Gavin Newsom, San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan, Reps. Ro Khanna of Santa Clara and Sam Liccardo of San Jose, and the San Jose Police Department to respond.
"Two American-Israelis brutally attacked in broad daylight in #SanJose just for speaking Hebrew. I call on California elected officials to condemn this vile, cowardly act and for law enforcement to address this grave incident swiftly and effectively," Sermoneta posted.
CEO of Jewish Silicon Valley Daniel Klein says he was horrified by the video but not surprised.
"Unfortunately, we've been experiencing this type of rhetoric and violence for a while now," said Klein.
But Klein says he doesn't want the Jewish community in San Jose to be afraid to be publicly Jewish. He wants to turn this situation into an opportunity to educate people.
"My hope is as terrible as this situation is that it's a wakeup call and learning opportunity within not just our Jewish community, but those outside of the Jewish community to really utilize this as an opportunity to get hate out of our community," said Klein.
Both Klein and the victims are hoping that bringing awareness to the situation will help prevent something like this from ever happening again, and that it might help police find the suspects.
One of the victims said there is a bright spot in all of the darkness.
"The community," the man stated. "I didn't even know all these people. That's the best thing ever, when you know that people love you and hug you and try to help with these kinds of situations. You think that you're alone, but you're not really alone at all."
Police did not announce arrests in the case.