Will Pro-Palestinian Radicals Disrupt the Presidential Debate?

Will Pro-Palestinian Violence Escalate?

Many apologies that I’ve been silent for the last few weeks.  I’ve been abroad and my Internet connection was, well, particularly lousy.

However, in my last post about today’s aggressive pro-Palestinian movement and its connections to Saul Alinsky, the radical prophet who guided New Left organizers like myself, I may have been too conservative about the tactics and strategies of today’s mob.

I previously suggested that today’s radicals had their eyes on disrupting the Democratic National Convention in August.

I may have been quite wrong.  This Thursday’s Presidential debate between Donald Trump and President Biden may be their next target.

Wall Street Journal board member Jillian Kay Melchior wrote last Friday, “The next (pro-Palestinian) target may be Thursday’s presidential debate in Atlanta. This month, a call to action circulated on social media. The post includes an image of Joe Biden and Donald Trump as a two-headed snake, and the accompanying text calls for “all groups, tendencies and networks” to “converge on Atlanta” and “disrupt the first debate.”

The pro-Palestinian onslaught has been escalating since it tried to devour college campuses with their many “encampments.”  As the encampments metastasized across the country, they became bolder.

California State University was one the latest victims of the rising violence perpetrated by the Palestinian movement.  Activists entered the school’s Student Services Building where 60 employees were working and seized it. Three university employees were assaulted along with a student.

The flavor of the occupation was described by Cal State University spokesperson Erik Frost Hollins: “the walls of Student Services Building (SSB) were graffitied with phrases like "Divest from Death," "Free Gaza," and "We see the blood on your hands." Several windows were smashed, and walkways were blocked with overturned tables, golf carts and umbrellas.”

University President Berenecea Johnson Eanes was appalled with the destruction and violence, saying in a message to those involved that "The encampment has crossed a line. Those in the encampment must leave."

Ugly as that may be, the Cal State “experience” was nothing compared to what occurred at Adas Torah, the Los Angeles-based Jewish synagogue.  There, hundreds of violent pro-Palestinians surrounded the synagogue and physically assaulted congregants.

Writing in the Jewish Journal Abraham Cooper, who went to the synagogue to attend a seminar on buying real estate and living in Israel, he described his initial encounter with the demonstrators. “The pro-Hamas forces which included virulent Code Pink were allowed to congregate close to the entrance of Adas from both east and west sidewalks as well all on Pico Blvd.”

Here is an extended and painful description of what unfolded by a fellow congregant and recounted by Cooper. The scene was as frightening as the scenes depicted of violent anti-Jewish Nazi riots in pre-war Germany.

“The scene outside Adas at 12:45 PM today was chaotic and dangerous.  LAPD seemed to be in react mode vs prevent mode.  Standard protocols that we have all seen and experienced at rallies to protect freedom of assembly did not appear to be implemented.  Here are some thoughts based on what I saw first-hand.

“I couldn’t help but be saddened/scared by what appeared to be an unprepared set of Los Angelos Police Department officers.

1.Clearly defined areas for “assembly” by different groups in two different areas were not established
2. Pico traffic became blocked organically and become dangerous…
3. Anti-Israel protesters came ‘ready’ with means for escalation (sprays, ski googles) and seemingly walked around freely and antagonistically amidst the mixed crowd (again, defined areas for assembly could have made it easier on law enforcement and easier on those assembling)
4. Fisticuffs broke out in different spots in a two-block area and LAPD seemed on their heels, and then they intervened with greater force that could have been avoided had they been more proactive from the get-go
5. LAPD did not have enough of a presence at 12:45 . . . but this changed when I walked out of Adas back on Pico at 2:45
6.  The sidewalk area right in front of the shul was controlled by protesters, not by law enforcement – – why didn’t law enforcement move the ‘line’ away from the shul entrance?
7.  Once sprays were used by protesters and things escalated, why wasn’t the entire thing shut down?
8.  When I walked south to my car, I was surprised to see that the entire ‘event’ had moved directly onto our residential streets . . . and there was ZERO law enforcement there…”

The reaction was a swift denunciation among many liberal and conservative voices. There even was a very sharp rebuke by President Biden who has previously tried to woo American Muslim communities. He stated: “Intimidating Jewish congregants is dangerous, unconscionable, antisemitic, and un-American….Americans have a right to peaceful protest. But blocking access to a house of worship—and engaging in violence—is never acceptable.”

Even progressive California Governor Gavin Newsom, along with other public figures denounced the Gestapo tactics.

So, what might occur at the upcoming Presidential debate?

The Journal’s Melchior describes in chilling detail the mood of the pro-Palestinian thugs.  

She cites a June 3 social media posting by Palestine Action US, which describes itself on Telegram as a “network dismantling zionism & US imperialism” through “direct action.” That approach includes vandalism, blockades and other unlawful means. Its online manifesto (is) titled “Flood the Gates: Escalate.”

Palestine Action US recently said, “We will not disavow any actions taken to escalate the struggle, including militant direct actions.” 

Alinsky, who wrote “Rules for Radicals,” created a blueprint for New Left radicals of the 70’s that we now see unfolding today.  I know about Rules.  I was one of those 70’s activists. I was the roommate of Chicago 8 defendant Rennie Davis.  New Left leaders like Abbie Hoffman and Jerry Rubin would stop by. I inhaled their advice and along with my fellow activists who reverentially followed Saul Alinsky. Later, I became conservatively inclined and abandoned the radical guru.

Now Alinsksy’s handiwork is visible today.  He is counseling radical activists from the grave.

One of Alinsky’s key piece of advice is that radical activists must instill fear of their potential power. “Always remember the first rule of power tactics: Power is not only what you have but what the enemy thinks you have.” 

There you have it.  Will we cower in the face of pro-Palestinian thugs? Or will we as a nation stand up to them?

It will be interesting to see what unfolds in Atlanta on Thursday night. Perhaps nothing will occur.  Or nasty, ugly and violent attacks may be seen on prime time TV.

Stay tuned…