HomeMy WebLinkAboutSLO UU_DC_JVP Media Statement 8_19_2025 Media Statement
August 19, 2025
Re: Addressing Antisemitism and Promoting Inclusivity in San Luis Obispo County
From: Anti-Defamation League (ADL) Santa Barbara/Tri-Counties, The Jewish Community Center-Federation
of San Luis Obispo (JCC), Congregation Beth David, Temple Ner Shalom, Congregation Ohr Tzafon, SLO Hillel
and Stand With Us
There is no room for hatred of Jews in San Luis Obispo County. Whether this comes from a coalition that claims to
foster a more diverse, equitable, and inclusive community, a church that has promised to use its resources to build
and sustain fully accessible and inclusive communities, or Cal Poly San Luis Obispo faculty who appear to
erroneously claim exclusive insight into the Jewish community or the Israel/Gaza war.
ADL (Anti-Defamation League), the Jewish Community Center-Federation of San Luis Obispo (JCC), Congregation
Beth David, Temple Ner Shalom, Congregation Ohr Tzafon, SLO Hillel and Stand With Us strongly condemn the
antisemitic and dangerous statements allegedly made at the August 8 meeting organized by Jewish Voice for
Peace, the Diversity Coalition of San Luis Obispo and the Unitarian Universalist Church of San Luis Obispo.
At the meeting, these organizations were reported to have promoted a hateful, antisemitic program resulting in the
maligning and exclusion of the Jewish community. Attendees and panelists allegedly called for a boycott of the
JCC, a ban of the ADL, support for the anti-Zionist and resulting antisemitic Boycott, Divest and Sanction (BDS)
movement, and most egregiously, a repeat of Hamas’ brutal terrorist attacks in which over 1,200 victims were
massacred in Israel on October 7, 2023.
If true, such rhetoric has palpable impact locally and can lead to real consequences for the Jewish community of
greater San Luis Obispo and beyond. Fear within the community, heightened since this tragic event, is only made
worse with calls for more violence and local exclusion.
As reported to various signatories here, at no point did any panelist or members of JVP, the Diversity Coalition, the
Unitarian Universalist Church, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo faculty, or other panelists or local leaders challenge the
unambiguous calls for violence and antisemitism promoted at the event. In fact, many reportedly nodded in
agreement. Calls for violence and boycotts of local Jewish institutions is antisemitic and contrary to notions of
inclusivity.
They are also dangerous to the Jews of greater San Luis Obispo. Jewish families rely on the Jewish Community
Center and other Jewish institutions to find comfort, support, and connections to their faith, culture, and identities.
ADL is dedicated to combatting antisemitism and bias in all its forms. When these institutions are targeted, Jews
fear for their safety and risk isolation from the community when they need it most.
We call upon all the Diversity Coalition of San Luis Obispo, the Unitarian Universalist Church of San Luis Obispo,
and Jewish Voice for Peace to denounce the statements allegedly made at the August 8 event and undergo training
and education to meet their missions as inclusive, bridge-building organizations.