Steve Garvey urges LA DA Gascon to prosecute violent LA synagogue protestors

California Republican Senate candidate Steve Garvey has called on Los Angeles District Attorney George Gascon to prosecute participants in a pro-Palestinian demonstration outside of a Los Angeles synagogue last week that turned violent.

The incident saw activist groups Palestinian Youth Movement LA and Code Pink LA stage protests at an Israeli real estate event at the Adas Torah synagogue and block Jews from entering the building. The altercations turned violent. Gascon's office issued a statement condemning "all forms of hatred," but did not indicate plans to bring charges against participants.

"It was unconscionable what happened," Garvey said, according to Fox News. "Again, this is literally a hate crime. And I will challenge the LA District Attorney George Gascon to prosecute these people to the full extent of the law."

"I think in many ways, leadership has failed on campuses and among DAs who failed to use these opportunities as a deterrent by prosecuting these people who literally broke the law and disrupted campuses," he added.

Concerns over antisemitism have risen in the wake of the Oct. 7 Hamas raid that sparked ongoing conflicts in the Gaza Strip. Republican lawmakers have focused in particular on antisemitism on college campuses, which saw many pro-Palestinian demonstrations amid the conflict.