I was just at an anti-Israel demonstration in San Francisco. Over an amplified loudspeaker, several speakers denounced Israel, Zionists, called us baby killers and enablers of genocide. Young men, with scarves wrapped around their faces flipped us off, “invited” us over to get beaten and screamed “kill the f*cking Jews.” Nearby were young Muslim women, standing silently, holding International ANSWER signs, while a rather vocal Arab woman tried to (unsuccessfully) breach the barricade when someone from our side blasted back with his own loudspeaker, “Free Gaza From Hamas.” SFPD was quick to recognize her hostile behavior.

The usual suspects were there: Code Pink, International ANSWER, a lone environmentalist protesting against fracking (seriously, not making this up), QUIT (Queers Undermining Israeli Terror - pure cognitive dissonance), plus some regular faces I’ve seen at past events from known communist groups.

The rhetoric is the same: blame Israel, kill the Jews, Palestine will be free, blah blah blah.