The New York Times has come under fire for its coverage of a violent protest outside a Jewish synagogue in Los Angeles. Reporters Jill Cowan and Jonathan Wolfe focused more on defending the right to protest rather than addressing the violence perpetrated by pro-Hamas demonstrators against Jewish worshippers.
The protest, which took place in LA’s largest Jewish enclave, saw masked individuals using bear spray and chanting “Intifada!” These details were conspicuously absent from the NYT report but were covered by the Los Angeles Times. The incident drew strong condemnation from top Democratic leaders, including President Biden, California Governor Gavin Newsom, and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, who emphasized that targeting synagogues is unacceptable.
President Biden issued a statement saying, “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.” However, pro-Palestinian groups defended the demonstration, claiming it was not inherently antisemitic.
The protest targeted a real estate fair at Adas Torah synagogue, where attendees could meet representatives of housing projects in Israel. The antiwar activist group Code Pink supported the demonstration, accusing President Biden of mischaracterizing the event.
Rabbi Dovid Revah of Adas Torah clarified that the synagogue’s event was not promoting illegal land sales. Despite this, the NYT’s coverage appeared neutral about the violence, which many argue is a significant oversight.
The Los Angeles Times provided a more detailed account, highlighting that police officers attempted to keep protesters from entering the synagogue and that bear spray affected many, causing Jewish attendees to fall to the ground.
