San Jose Restaurant Attack Investigated as Antisemitic Hate Crime

Three men in black t-shirts beat two men outside Augustine restaurant at Santana Row in San Jose Sunday afternoon, and police are now investigating the assault as a possible hate crime after the victims told officers the attackers hurled antisemitic slurs throughout the confrontation.

San Jose police responded to a report of a fight in the 300 block of Santana Row around 3:38 p.m. Bystander video and security camera footage, shared widely on social media by organizations including the Combat Antisemitism Movement, show three men repeatedly punching and kicking a person on the ground near the restaurant's sidewalk patio. In the background, onlookers can be heard yelling "No, stop that" and "Knock it off." The suspects fled before officers arrived.

"Preliminary investigation revealed that two adult male victims were approached by a group of three adult male subjects and an altercation occurred between the victims and suspects, which became physical," the San Jose Police Department said in a statement. "The victims alleged that the suspects used antisemitic language during the altercation. Both victims were evaluated by medical personnel on scene for minor injuries."

The victims were speaking Hebrew while waiting to be seated when the suspects approached them, according to multiple accounts. The SJPD's assaults unit is handling the active investigation.

San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan called the attack "deeply disturbing." Community leaders were sharper in their response. Daniel Klein, CEO of Jewish Silicon Valley, said the local Jewish community has been bracing for exactly this kind of incident. "It's extremely disturbing," Klein said. "I wish our community was surprised by this incident, but unfortunately, this has been the environment that the Jewish community has had to operate in for several years now."

Tali Klima, spokesperson for the Bay Area Jewish Coalition, said her organization is "absolutely horrified and devastated by the attacks that took place on Sunday." Klima singled out the location as particularly alarming. "Santana Row is a place we all frequent and enjoy," she said. "To think that such an attack could occur in broad daylight in front of many onlookers just for being Jewish is terrifying. We call on San Jose Police to investigate this incident for what it is: a hate crime. We further call on local elected officials to not only condemn this unfettered hatred, but to take decisive action to protect the local Jewish community."

No suspects have been publicly identified. The three men were wearing black t-shirts at the time of the assault; one frame from the video shows a man in a black shirt attacking a man in a red shirt. The investigation remains active and ongoing, with the FBI notified of the incident, according to one account of the case.