A group of pro-Palestinian protesters targeted the Brentwood vacation home of AIPAC President Michael Tuchin on Thanksgiving.
Video posted to social media show the protesters beating drums and chanting, “Hey hey, ho ho, the occupation has got to go” and throwing smoke bombs in front of the home. The protesters also carried a banner that stated, “F— your holiday Baby killer.” Photos posted to social media appeared to show red paint on the driveway and objects appearing to resemble dead babies.
“HORRIFYING- the home of AIPAC’s President was targeted by pro-Palestinian radicals who ignited smoke bombs outside of his residence and proceeded to spill red paint, signifying blood,” Stop Antisemitism posted on X, formerly known as Twitter. “What’s next? The burning of Synagogues and schools like in 1939 Germany?”
Additional footage of the vandalism.
Know who is involved? DM us! pic.twitter.com/711HsshkF5
— StopAntisemitism (@StopAntisemites) November 23, 2023
The People’s City Council of Los Angeles, which describes itself as an “abolitionist, anti-capitalist & anti-imperialist collective,” posted a video of the incident to social media and stated: “People are out in front of AIPAC president Michael Tuchin’s house in Los Angeles for a holiday wake up call! AIPAC spends tens of millions to control pro-genocide congressmembers. F— your holiday, baby killer!”
RIGHT NOW: people are out in front of @AIPAC president Michael Tuchin’s house in Los Angeles for a holiday wake up call!
AIPAC spends tens of millions to control pro-genocide congressmembers. Fuck your holiday baby killer! #FreePalestine pic.twitter.com/SzKVMDZesB
— People's City Council – Los Angeles (@PplsCityCouncil) November 23, 2023
The Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) told The Los Angeles Daily News that they arrived at the scene at 10:45 a.m. and received reports of a hate crime, vandalism and assault with a deadly weapon; no arrests have been made been yet. The investigation remains ongoing.
Mayor Karen Bass (D) condemned the incident, posting to X on Friday: “I’ve spoken with [LAPD Police] Chief [Michel] Moore and those impacted by yesterday’s disturbing incident. Hate and violence will not be tolerated in our City. LAPD will continue to work with city and business leaders to keep Angelenos safe.”
I’ve spoken with Chief Moore and those impacted by yesterday’s disturbing incident.
Hate and violence will not be tolerated in our City. LAPD will continue to work with city and business leaders to keep Angelenos safe.
— Mayor Karen Bass (@MayorOfLA) November 24, 2023
Anti-Defamation League (ADL) Los Angeles Regional Director Jeffrey I. Abrams told the Journal, “We are outraged that a protest yesterday outside a private home in West Los Angeles turned violent and unlawful. We are in direct contact with the victim, LAPD and local officials, and are committed to helping ensure that the organizers are identified, arrested and brought to justice.”
ADL CEO Jonathan Greenblatt posted to X, “Trespass and vandalism at a private Jewish residence in Los Angeles. Vandalism at the public library in NYC explicitly targeted because it has a prominent Jewish donor. The #antisemitism is naked and unmistakable. The radicalism is expanding and intensifying. We urge law enforcement to arrest and prosecute those responsible and public voices on all sides to speak out without prompting. Freedom of assembly isn’t the freedom to assault people and places because of their identity.”
Trespass and vandalism at a private Jewish residence in Los Angeles. Vandalism at the public library in NYC explicitly targeted because it has a prominent Jewish donor. The #antisemitism is naked and unmistakable. The radicalism is expanding and intensifying. We urge law… https://t.co/xZ2R3OcVhA
— Jonathan Greenblatt (@JGreenblattADL) November 24, 2023
AIPAC did not immediately respond to the Journal’s request for comment.
This is a developing story.
UPDATE: The People’s City Council of Los Angeles posted to social media on November 27 that they did not organize the protest. “Our understanding is that the protest was organized autonomously by a group of people that included Palestinians, anti-Zionist Jews, and others,” they wrote. The group stated that it was “utterly baseless” to call the protest antisemitic, arguing that such accusations are “based on a racist conflation of anti-Zionism and antisemitism.”
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