Organizers of a rally in the city's South of Market neighborhood by self-proclaimed anti-Zionist Jews who say they are opposed to Israeli air strikes and bombings in Gaza.
The issues in the Middle East are having a major impact here in the Bay Area, and multiple rallies took place in San Francisco Friday.Hundreds of pro-Israel demonstrators gathered at Civic Center Plaza condemning Hamas for taking some 150 hostages in their early Saturday morning strike. Many of those had a personal reason to speak out.
"The news from my friends who had survived started to arrive," said Rafaeli. "My friend's children were taken hostage with her elder mom. My friend Noam's mom was taken hostage."Some Hebrew schools close, others stay open with police nearby amid 'Day of Jihad' threat Demonstrators there were the targets of occasionally loud opposition, choosing to drown out those voices with chants rather than engage in a yelling match. More than a dozen Jewish community groups came together to condemn the kidnappings and called for the immediate release with organizers saying they are speaking with a unified voice.
"You know, a lot of people say two Jews, three opinions. We love fighting with each other. But, I have never since starting this role seen the Jewish community more united. Left, right, secular religious, reformed, orthodox, and everything in between. We are all on the same page. We are all in this fight together, and we're going to defend our people."
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