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As a Jewish resident of Santa Cruz for over 20 years, I never imagined local Jews would need to meet in secret just to screen a film on antisemitism. Yet that’s exactly what happened.
After the first showing of “October 8” — a documentary on the surge of antisemitism following Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023, massacre — Jewish attendees were shouted down, harassed and photographed. Most attending were pro-Palestinian, but that didn’t matter. They were visibly Jewish, and that was enough to be targeted.
This wasn’t protest; it was antisemitic harassment.
More troubling is that the photo of this incident — featuring signs equating Zionism with evil — was published again by Lookout, despite my prior letter. Republishing this image without context normalizes dangerous blood libel tropes being weaponized against Jews in Santa Cruz.
Among those promoting the protest were activists affiliated with “Jewish Voice for Peace” who have made it clear they view Jewish self-determination as immoral. This isn’t criticism of policy — it’s demonization of a people.
Let’s be clear: Zionism is Jewish self-determination and survival. It has achieved its primary goal — Israel exists. As defined by the Oxford Dictionary and understood by most Jews worldwide, Zionism is the national movement for the return of Jewish people to their homeland and resumption of Jewish sovereignty in Israel. It is not a slur, nor is it up for redefinition by protest signs or political agendas.
I recently spoke with someone whose parents fled Eastern Europe because they were Jewish, finding refuge in Israel before settling in the U.S. That’s Zionism as lived reality: survival, not supremacy.
This isn’t silencing criticism of Israel. It’s whether Jews in Santa Cruz can gather safely without being stalked, photographed and vilified. If secrecy is required just to grieve and speak, we’re not in a debate — we’re in danger.
Santa Cruz must not enable the normalization of antisemitism by republishing harmful propaganda and downplaying harassment. We don’t fight injustice by giving cover to another form of it.
History has shown us what comes next.
Joshua Logan
Santa Cruz