EXCLUSIVE TO FOX – Members of a Los Angeles synagogue are suing three prominent protest organizations for orchestrating a “riot” that “aggressively obstructed Jews” from entering their place of worship last month.
“This event resembled a modern-day pogrom, literally turning into a day of broken glass aimed at Jewish families exercising their religious freedoms,” stated Carly Gammill, Director of the StandWithUs Center for Legal Justice (SCLJ), in a press statement.
“The creators of this antisemitic turmoil need to understand that they cannot use harassment and violence to take away Jews’ First Amendment rights – and we are committed to aiding the Jewish community in ensuring that our laws are upheld,” Gammill further remarked.
The SCLJ has initiated legal action against CodePink, Palestinian Youth Movement, and WESPAC Foundation on behalf of seven individuals affiliated with the Adas Torah synagogue, where the incident took place on June 23. The lawsuit charges the organizations with multiple counts of intimidation and threats, seeking damages of about $5,000 for each infringement, along with “suitable punitive damages.”
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The lawsuit claims the protests escalated into violence and chaos, referencing instances of bear spray deployment and images depicting injuries sustained during the protest.
An armed private security officer at the entrance of the Adas Torah synagogue on June 24, 2024, in Los Angeles. President Joe Biden has condemned the violence that erupted during the protest regarding the Israel-Hamas conflict in Gaza over the weekend. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)(AP)
“Sadly, such images are no longer shocking,” the lawsuit states. “They represent an increasingly prevalent situation: Organized riots that violently target the American Jewish community.”
At least one individual was arrested as protesters allegedly attempted to forcibly obstruct access to the building and harassed those aiming to enter the synagogue. President Biden took to social media to denounce the incident.
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“I’m appalled by the scenes witnessed outside the Adas Torah synagogue in Los Angeles. Intimidating Jewish worshippers is perilous, unacceptable, antisemitic, and un-American,” Biden remarked.
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass and the LAPD have faced criticism from demonstrators on both sides for failing to prevent the protest from escalating.
Police in riot gear are attempting to restore order during a violent confrontation between supporters of Israel and Palestine outside the Adas Torah synagogue in Los Angeles. (Getty Images)
“It was disturbing to see pro-Hamas aggressors shutting down a synagogue and attacking Jews in the streets,” one plaintiff shared with Fox News Digital on the condition of anonymity. “This isn’t the America I cherish.”
“As it seems that these criminals are unlikely to face repercussions, we felt compelled to pursue justice through the legal system,” the plaintiff added. “We should not have to resort to this – but given the lack of action by Los Angeles law enforcement, we chose to take our own path.”
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The SCLJ contended that the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE) Act should be applicable, as it “mandates civil and criminal charges against anyone who ‘by force or threat of force or by physical obstruction, intentionally injures, intimidates or interferes with or attempts to injure, intimidate, or interfere with any person lawfully exercising or seeking to exercise the First Amendment right of religious freedom at a place of religious worship.’”
“The evidence clearly shows that these groups maliciously organized over 200 individuals to deny Jewish citizens their First Amendment right to practice their religion through violence and intimidation,” stated Mark Goldfeder, Director of the National Jewish Advocacy Center, in a press statement regarding the lawsuit.
Supporters of Israel confront pro-Palestinian demonstrators obstructing access to the Adas Torah Orthodox Jewish synagogue in Los Angeles, June 23, 2024. (Photo by David Swanson/AFP via Getty Images)
“That constitutes over 200 clear violations of federal law and more than 200 violations of state law,” Goldfeder noted. “Those responsible for violently preventing Jewish individuals from entering their place of worship must face significant repercussions.”
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The legal action highlights previous statements made by leaders from each group, including one Palestinian Youth Movement organizer who “applauded the terror attacks on October 7, 2023 during a panel discussion,” and allegations that certain CodePink members participated in a conference in Iran alongside Holocaust deniers and met with Hamas officials “on numerous occasions.”
CodePink indicated that the group does not comment on active lawsuits, while both PYM and WESPAC did not respond to a Fox News Digital request for comment before publication. The mayor’s office in Los Angeles also remained unresponsive prior to publication.
Fox News Digital’s Louis Casiano contributed to this report.
