A recent surge in antisemitism, including antisemitic comments tweeted by rapper Kanye West in early October, has brought the issue to the forefront of the public eye and made it newly relevant to the CHS community.

West’s tweets and subsequent denial that antisemitism still exists catalyzed an antisemitic display on an overpass of the 405 freeway, in which a hate group raised a Nazi salute behind a banner saying, “Kanye is right about the Jews.” Another banner promoted a website streaming antisemitic content.

“It devastated me when I saw on social media the poster on the 405 highway advocating antisemitism, particularly since the supporters live so close to my home and school,” said junior Jaden Forman.

West’s comments are not the only recent example of hate against Jews. In 2021, a group of Palestinian supporters physically assaulted Jewish residents of a community in the Wilshire division. At the UC Berkeley Law school this fall, several student groups banned speakers supporting the state of Israel, an action not condoned by the university’s administration. 

“A handful of student groups [adopted] bylaws that would ban Zionist speakers,” said AJC Global Voice, in cooperation with other Jewish organizations. “This is unabashed antisemitism.”

Organizations like AJC and StandWithUs emphasize education as a way to combat hate.

“Antisemitism has been a tremendous issue,” said junior Ava Meyers. “Things I’ve learned to help the Jewish heritage starts with being educated over the traumatic history.”

West declined an invitation to tour the Holocaust Museum LA, which seeks to educate on the realities of the Holocaust and commemorate its survivors. The museum has since received multiple threatening messages.