SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Hundreds of members of the Jewish community converged in Sacramento to push for legislation cracking down on antisemitism at the Capitol Summit of Jewish Public Affairs Committee of California (JPAC) on Tuesday and Wednesday.
The organization meets during an uncertain time for the Jewish community as protests break out across the United States against Israel’s war in Gaza.
“People are feeling a lot of pain, anxiety and fear,” said JPAC Executive Director David Bocarsly.
“We know when we are facing times of trouble, what it means to come together as a community and to organize. And that’s what we’re doing here today,” Bocarsly said.
The organization is backing a package of bills to combat antisemitism and hate after the Oct. 7 attack on Israel, and its response in Gaza.
“Right now, we’re living in a culture that doesn’t really encourage dialogue, communication, middle ground, coexistence,” said Abbie Yosian, a participant at the summit.
“We feel that a lot of Jewish students need support, and they need to know that they have people speaking on behalf of them,” added John Graves, another participant.
Meanwhile, 20 miles down the road, the pro-Palestinian encampment at UC Davis has entered its ninth day on the quad.
It’s one of many such demonstrations on college campuses around the country denouncing Israel.
But encampment spokesperson Stanford McConnehey denied that their message creates a hostile environment for Jewish students.
“The fact that they have to focus on how their feelings are hurt by what we’re saying, it’s OK. These messages, this topic, it can be contentious, but there’s clearly nothing more contentious than an ongoing genocide,” McConnehey said.
Many in the Jewish community don’t see it that way.
“I think that it’s an uncertain time right now in the United States to be Jewish,” Graves said.
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