Zoe Levine, a member of the Oakland Jewish Alliance, expressed her shock at the hateful graffiti stating, 'It was really just shocking, really hateful things said. I can't. I don't even want to.' This reflects the pain and outrage felt within the community, particularly after the recent surge of antisemitism following the tragic events of October 7, 2023.
Jonathan Mintzer, Director of Policy & Government Affairs at the Bay Area's Jewish Community Relations Council, highlighted the dire situation, stating, 'This is really just the latest example of the unaddressed and ongoing antisemitism crisis that we're seeing in Oakland.' He noted the statistics from recent JCRC surveys showing 60% of Jews in the Bay Area feel less safe post-October 7.
Mintzer further added, '...over a third have directly experienced or witnessed antisemitism,' emphasizing the urgent need for community and leadership to address rising hate. This quote underscores the pervasive atmosphere of fear and alienation experienced by local Jewish residents.
Levine described her personal efforts in combating the graffiti, saying, 'It was like drinking from a firehose... there was just so much every day. Just more and more totally unchecked, that I kind of had to get more help.' This sentiment illustrates the overwhelming challenge of addressing such vitriol in the community.
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