Video: Attack at San Jose’s Santana Row investigated as possible hate crime
Santana Row attack investigated as possible hate crime
A fight caught on video at San Joses Santana Row is caught on video and police say its being investigated as a hate crime. Police say two men were approached by three other men and a fight broke out. The two victims were allegedly speaking Hebrew.
SAN JOSE, Calif. - San Jose police are investigating an attack at Santana Row over the weekend as a possible hate crime after victims reported that suspects hurled antisemitic remarks during the assault.
Jewish Silicon Valley CEO Daniel Klein said the victims were Israeli-American men and were speaking Hebrew when they were beaten.
"While they were waiting for their table, three people came up to them out of nowhere and knocked one of the victims out cold and then three of them jumped on top of the other victim," Klein said.
The attack
What we know:
Officers responded on Sunday to a report of a fight in the 300 block of Santana Row just before 3:40 p.m. outside the restaurant, Augustine, according to video at the scene and the San Jose Police Department.
Officers determined that the Israeli Americans were approached by a group of three men. A verbal altercation escalated into a physical fight, police said.
What was said between the groups has not been made public.
The Israeli-American men sustained minor injuries and were treated at the scene. The suspects fled before officers arrived.
Bystander video captured three men wearing black shirts repeatedly punching a person believed to be one of the victims as onlookers watched.
Voices can be heard in the background yelling, "Knock it off," before the three men run away.
No indication related to global issues
Big picture view:
Klein said there is no specific indication that this incident is related to the ongoing conflict in Iran by U.S. and Israeli forces, and hate crimes have been on the rise for a long time.
"And we are highly encouraging our elected officials in those positions of power to really come out strong against this type of violence against the community," he said.
Klein said he feels the entire community – of all faiths and religions – can do a better job trying to help prevent these types of incidents.
"Part of what I tell my kids is how can we find the love and appreciation in all of our neighbors?" Klein said. "I think anyone at home – how can we make sure we understand our different communities and in this case the Jewish community, what they are going through, what they are seeing."
Possible hate crime investigation after Santana Row attack
The San Jose Police Department is investigating a fight at Santana Row as a possible hate crime.
Previous victim of antisemitism
Dig deeper:
KTVU has learned that one of the victims in this case has been the victim of a hate crime before.
The victim owns an HVAC company here in San Jose where his company vans were painted with swastikas in August of last year.
San Jose police were also called to investigate last year's case, but as of now there is no known link between last year's vandalism and the incident at Santana Row.
The Source: This story was written based on information from the San Jose Police Department, along with social media video from @TheJewishAlly on X. Jewish Silicon Valley
