In January 2018, Blaze Bernstein, a 19-year-old college student, was stabbed to death in Borrego Park, Foothill Ranch (Orange Country), California. His killer was Samuel Woodward, a member of a neo-Nazi group called the Atomwaffen Division, who was 21 at the time of the murder. Since Blaze was both gay and Jewish, Woodward was charged with both murder and a hate crime enhancement. He was convicted and is now serving a life sentence in prison without parole.
Yesterday afternoon, I happened to be at Borrego Park for the first time for my grandson's soccer practice. During the practice, my daughter led me to the spot where Blaze's body was found back in 2018. It is now a memorial to Blaze and is covered with rocks left by people simply wishing to pay their respects. It is a Jewish tradition to lay a rock on a Jewish grave as a sign of love and respect.
As you can see from the photos I took, most of the rocks left had been decorated or painted prior to bringing them to the site. Not being prepared, I found a rock in the bushes and placed it among all the others.
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