A growing number of deputy district attorneys in Los Angeles say they are concerned about anti-Semitism in their offices after months of silence from their superiors on the issue, culminating in a gathering of anti-Israel agitators and counterprotesters in Los Angeles Clashes broke out outside a synagogue in a Jewish ghetto.
Violence broke out last week outside Adastola Synagogue on Pico Boulevard, prompting condemnation from a range of prominent Democrats, including President Joe Biden, California Gov. Gavin Newsom and Los Angeles Mayor Karen B. Sri Lanka.
But District Attorney George Gascon, who prosecutes crimes related to the conflict, has remained conspicuously silent, according to multiple Los Angeles prosecutors.
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Los Angeles Police Department officers clash with anti-Israel protesters outside Adastola Synagogue in Los Angeles on June 23, 2024. (David Swanson/AFP via Getty Images)
“I hate going to work, I hate going into a building because I feel like my boss is going to treat me differently because I’m Jewish,” said Brian Schirn, a senior prosecutor in charge of the district attorney’s narcotics unit. How many others feel.
The key issue raised by Sheehan and other deputy district attorneys was Gascogne’s slow response to Hamas’ October 7 terrorist attacks on Israel; his support from local political groups accused of anti-Semitism, including Including People’s City Council, a group that the Los Angeles chapter of the American Jewish Committee has called “blatantly anti-Semitic”; in fact, one-third to one-half of the nearly two dozen whistleblower retaliation lawsuits filed by fellow deputy district attorneys Jewish accuser.
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They said he took an aggressive stance after pro-Israel counterprotesters joined the clashes at Adastora but did not target the anti-Semitic mob that sparked the clashes. They say Jewish prosecutors were passed over for more than a dozen promotions to the important chief deputy position. They said Gascon did so only after more than 130 employees wrote asking him to address Hamas’s bloody rampage in Israel on Oct. 7.
On June 23, 2024, Israeli supporters clashed with anti-Israel protesters blocking access to the Adastola Synagogue in Los Angeles. (David Swanson/AFP via Getty Images)
In his response to the petition, he did not mention Hamas or use the word “anti-Semitism,” but in a statement to Fox News Digital, Gascón’s office singled out anti-Semitism and “anti-Semitism.” All forms of hatred”.
“The District Attorney’s Office condemns all forms of hatred, including anti-Semitism, and takes allegations of discrimination seriously,” a spokesperson told Fox News Digital. “Any suggestion that the District Attorney’s Office sympathizes with organizations that promote hatred, discrimination, violence, or terrorism is baseless. Our approach to prosecuting demonstrations and counter-protests is driven solely by the principles of law and justice and does not discriminate against any group. any bias.
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According to one of the retaliation lawsuits, Deputy District Attorney Amy Pentz, who is Jewish, was invited to join the office’s “Equity Action Team.” After a meeting in which she thanked the panel for including her and said she was concerned about anti-Semitism, she was kicked off the panel “on the pretext that there were too many lawyers on the panel,” according to court documents.
Another deputy prosecutor sued for alleged retaliation is John Lewin, a veteran cold-case prosecutor who recently returned home early from leave to assist with a murder trial.
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Pro-Israel and anti-Israel protesters debate opposing views near the Adastola Synagogue on June 23, 2024 in Los Angeles. (Zoe Cranfill/Los Angeles Times via AP)
“I don’t know what Georges Gascon personally believed, but as far as I know, he personally didn’t believe in anything other than to further his political ambitions,” said Lewin, who is Jewish. “I don’t know if he was anti-Semitic at heart. But the people around him and the groups that supported him definitely were.”
He said he took issue with Gascón appearing to dismiss charges against anti-Israel protesters who camped out at UCLA, allegedly saying they would be pursued “to the fullest extent of the law.”
Footage of the synagogue confrontation shows anti-Israel protesters and anti-Israel protesters brawling. At one point, a woman can be seen curled up in a fetal position on the ground and a group of thugs kick her as she falls to the ground.
George Gascón stands next to Tiffany Bracknell. (Los Angeles District Attorney’s Office)
“The fact that he is ostensibly saying that he will use the full force of the law to deal with the cases of Jewish suspects, while at the same time saying that he will not take any action against the protesters is shameful and an obvious one. Signs. “His actions as district attorney, supported by people whose mouths are full of Jewish hatred, are appalling and the public needs to know so that when they vote, they know this district What happens is what lawyers will and won’t do.
加斯康在即將到來的選舉中的挑戰者內森·霍赫曼認為，現任總統對大學校園和阿達斯托拉猶太教堂外的反猶太抗議活動保持沉默，向他們背後的人發出了錯誤的signal.
He said “vile and reprehensible” speech is protected by the First Amendment, but riots, violence and hate crimes are not.
He added that when words turn into illegal behavior, it’s the district attorney’s responsibility to take action.
“On Sunday, President Biden made comments about the Adastola Synagogue, which Governor Newsom called shocking and the Mayor of Bath called abhorrent,” Hochman told Fox News Digital. “But one person is missing, the person who is responsible for all prosecutions, all felony prosecutions – the district attorney. His silence behind the scenes, and not just in relation to this incident, has emboldened criminals,” Hochman said .
Joseph Iniguez, George Gascon, Richard Ceballos and Rachel Rossi attend the Reform Los Angeles Prison Summit + Day Party: Mental Health Issues on November 9, 2019 in Pasadena, California. (Jesse Grant/Patrice Cullors via Getty Images)
Gascon’s office has denied the accusations of anti-Semitism and said it is working to expand the Fair Action Group again.
“When it comes to promotions and representation within our office, we are committed to a fair and transparent process that values the qualifications and contributions of all employees,” the statement continued. “We are actively working to ensure our Equity and Diversity Group reflects our community a wide range of situations, including Jewish representation.”
Hochman countered that the top levels of the DA’s office are filled with unqualified personnel.
Police in riot gear tried to restore order after a violent altercation broke out between supporters and opponents of Israel outside the Adastora synagogue in Los Angeles. (Getty Images)
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Gascon’s No. 2 is Chief Deputy Prosecutor Joseph Iniguez, who can be seen in recently released video footage as police attempted to conduct field sobriety tests on his then-fiancé. Argument with police. His former No. 3, Diana Teran, faces 11 felony charges. His chief of staff, Tiffiny Blacknell, is a former public defender famous for calling for an end to prisons, calling police “savages” and claiming to be a mugger during the 1992 Rodney King riots , and was criticized for criticizing “West Side white liberals.”
“The fact that these three leaders of the DA’s office under Gascón were either unqualified or underqualified or are now being charged with criminal conduct is indicative of the fact that Gascón Running this office is disastrously incompetent. “If you add in the 20-plus lawsuits he filed against, it just helps solidify the fact that Gascón doesn’t deserve to be a district attorney and is incapable of truly being an effective district attorney. official role. “
Fox News’ Bradford Bates contributed to this report.
