Campus Hate Crime Exposes Rising Anti-Israel Sentiments

Crowd of people protesting with signs and megaphone

The San Francisco Hillel House at San Francisco State University was vandalized with antisemitic graffiti, surfacing tensions on campus about antisemitism and anti-Israel sentiments.

At a Glance

San Francisco Hillel House vandalized with racist graffiti targeting Jewish students
Jewish Community Relations Council condemned the hate crime
Authorities take the incident seriously due to its impact on community peace
The graffiti included “Khaybar” references, evoking historical hostility

Vandalism at Hillel House Sparks Outcry

San Francisco Hillel House, a pivotal support center for Jewish students, was defaced with antisemitic graffiti deeply rooted in Islamist undertones. This act of vandalism referenced “Khaybar,” a significant historical conflict between Muslims and Jews, implying animosity and veiled threats to the Jewish community today.

The Jewish Community Relations Council swiftly condemned the vandalism, stressing its troubling implications. The incident adds to the documented history of San Francisco State University facing anti-Israel activism, amplifying tensions. The council’s statement read, “Last night, the @SFHillel House, a block from the @SFSU campus, was vandalized with antisemitic graffiti…”

Last night, the @SFHillel House, a block from the @SFSU campus, was vandalized with antisemitic graffiti, and the perpetrators attempted to break in.

The graffiti referenced 'Khaybar,' a historic region in 7th-century Arabia where a battle between Muslims and Jews resulted in… pic.twitter.com/pWFGAegPv4

— JCRC Bay Area (@SFJCRC) December 9, 2024

Broader Context of Recent Antisemitic Activity

In conjunction with the Hillel House incident, multiple antisemitic acts have occurred across San Francisco. A Jewish restaurant in the Mission District, belonging to Jewish owner Manny Yekutiel, suffered vandalism during a pro-Palestine protest. This graffiti attack echoed similar antisemitic and pro-Hamas sentiments seen citywide.

“This afternoon, masked cowards vandalized Manny’s with antisemitic graffiti…” said Trevor Chandler, the recently-elected district nine supervisor in San Francisco.

In the days following the grave incident, over fifty structures were desecrated with hostile messages endorsing Hamas and threatening violence. Such displays not only target individuals based on their Jewish identity but also symbolize a malicious anti-Israel rhetoric, with JCRC noting, “Glorification of Hamas militants…”

@sfchronicle & @D4VIDHernandez – Titling this article “Jewish-owned business tagged with graffiti during S.F. rally for Palestinians” shows how little you care about antisemitism and Palestinian human rights. Targeting a Jewish-owned business with graffiti calling for 90% of Jews… https://t.co/nG8WCea5t6

— JIMENA (@JIMENA_Voice) October 8, 2024

Community Response and Political Backlash

In the face of these hateful actions, San Francisco’s community and political leaders united to denounce the acts and show solidarity with local Jewish residents. The Jewish Community Relations Council has emphatically voiced its opposition, pushing back against the spread of anti-Semitic rhetoric and ensuring that legal interventions follow.

The city has witnessed an array of protests and demonstrations against antisemitism, accentuating a community’s resolve to not let these events slip by unaddressed. This is part of a larger movement pressuring authorities to address longstanding issues of hate on college campuses and in public life.