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We are two queer, trans, active members of the Rainbow Defense Coalition, which supports community safety at LGBTQ+ events in Santa Cruz county and the Pajaro Valley. We are writing to highlight a disturbing incidence of antisemitic harassment we witnessed last Sunday at Santa Cruz Pride.

Two men, one of whom is a right-wing, pro-Israel influencer from Florida, approached the booth of Santa Cruz Jews for a Free Palestine to harass queer and allied Jewish community members. This group was selling items to fundraise for Gazan families, including the family of a local Palestinian-American woman, and collecting signatures for a petition to evacuate this woman’s family to safety.

The men aggressively got into Jewish community members’ faces, loomed over them, and continuously filmed them. They especially targeted female-presenting Jews, including Jewish elders. Both stayed in the area for over an hour despite being asked to leave. 

We witnessed them mocking a queer Jewish woman and invalidating her Jewish identity, calling Jewish community members terrorists, and aggressively following a Jewish elder around, including to her car as she tried to leave. On multiple occasions, we physically placed our bodies between her and them to block their harassment and allow her to depart safely.

It was disturbing that members of the professional security team were in the area throughout, but did not make any meaningful attempts to de-escalate the situation or provide assistance to Santa Cruz Jews for a Free Palestine. Appeals for help to a passing Pride official also went unanswered. 

Instead, it was queer community and allies who stepped up to de-escalate, protect, and support Jewish community members. This included members of Santa Cruz Roller Derby and SafeRx Santa Cruz, among many others. It was heartening to witness our community’s courage, care and initiative bringing to life the adage “we keep us safe.” 

We cannot simply say “no going back.” This era of rising threats to our most marginalized community members demands more from all of us to make it true. Like queer communities of the past who helped each other survive, we must grow our solidarity and our courage, stand up for one another, and keep each other safe.

Nat Low and Eli Davies, Aptos