The Orange County Human Rights Commission and Anti-Semitism

Recently, in Orange County, we were shocked and saddened by a terrible stabbing murder of a young Jewish (and apparently gay) college student named Blaze Bernstein. Samuel Woodward is charged with the killing of Bernstein, who was last seen in Woodward's company on January 2. Bernstein's body was later found in a park in Lake Forest near Irvine.

https://www.ocregister.com/2018/02/02/arraignment-set-today-for-blaze-bernsteins-accused-killer/

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/blaze-bernstein-murder-suspect-samuel-woodward-pleads-not-guilty/

Aside from the brutal murder, there is the question of possible hate crime charges. It has been reported that Woodward told police that Bernstein tried to kiss him. Thus, many are speculating whether the killing was an act of hatred towards homosexuals. This week, the Orange County District Attorney, Tony Rackauckas, joined State Senator Janet Nguyen and  other officials in calling for special circumstance sentencing in cases of hate crimes against people based on sexual orientation. Current state law does not apply this to victims based on sexual orientation.

I have no inside information on this case, and cannot say what the apparent motive is other than what the authorities have released. However, in addition to the gay angle, it has also been reported that the suspect is a member of a racist, anti-semitic, Nazi-style organization called Atomwaffen Division.

Here is their website. Viewer warning: This is disturbing in the extreme.

https://atomwaffendivision.org/

So the question should be asked: Aside from the anti-gay angle, did Bernstein's Jewishness also play a role in his killing? Police have released no statements or evidence that supports that, as far as I know.

Curiously, the much-maligned Orange County Human Relations Commission (OCHRC), seems silent on the Bernstein case. Normally, in cases involving even possible hate crimes or minor but odious expressions of hate, such as insulting language, insults or racial slurs, they are all over the local media especially under their recently-retired CEO, Rusty Kennedy. Over the years, I have been quite critical of Kennedy and the OCHRC for their seeming indifference to complaints of anti-semitism at UC Irvine. Kennedy, while head of the OCHRC, actually attended the infamous Durban conference in South Africa that singled out Israel as a "human rights abuser". He also, in my view, showed favoritism toward Muslims and any complaints about alleged Islamophobia. Indeed, OCHRC recently  co-sponsored teacher training in Islamophobia by the Orange County School District, "training" that also featured seasoned activists and CAIR officials bashing Israel. In their defense, OCHRC put out this white paper.

http://www.ochumanrelations.org/press-releases/oc-human-relations-affirms-commitment-fighting-anti-semitism/


"The OC Human Relations Council has been one of the leading non-profit organizations in the fight against anti-Semitism since our inception in 1991.  For 26 years we have documented and responded to every anti-Semitic hate crime and incident reported in Orange County." 

Nonsense. In 2008, I wrote a letter to Kennedy outlining anti-semitism at UC Irvine on the part of the Muslim Student Union and their invited speakers. In reply, I received a letter from Kennedy rebuking me for criticizing the UCI administration for their indifference. Lesson learned.

http://garyfouse.blogspot.com/2008/05/and-all-i-got-was-this-lousy.html

Did the OCHRC document the anti-semitic diatribes of Amir Abdel Malik Ali when he appeared year after year at UCI? I did, but I didn't see the OCHRC anywhere. Did they document the caricature of Ariel Sharon put up on the MSU mock apartheid wall in 2008-drawn in the style of Julius Streicher's Der Stuermer? No, but I did.



As for their references to working with the ADL and Jewish Federation, they "worked" with organizations that did nothing to fight the anti-semitism at UCI. I can testify to that personally. I witnessed their (ADL-Federation) representatives at the annual anti-Israel events standing around doing nothing and never-not once to my knowledge- challenging speakers like Ali, Hatem Bazian and others whose anti-Israel rants often crossed over into outright Jew hatred.  I challenged those speakers. They did not.

"We are aware of the presenters in Orange County, and the curriculum that we reviewed along with the OC Department of Education before supporting this training.  A small portion of the first day reviewed Israel/Palestine relations from the perspective of a Palestinian American.  It was personal and respectful and did not endorse the boycott or divestment of companies doing business with Israel.  It was not an anti-Israel rant, and the presenter did not speak or promote anti-Semitism.

The second day of the training is not covering this issue at all.  We are monitoring the training with a representative of the Jewish Federation and Family Services today and will take appropriate action if there are any concerns.

While we do not believe anything anti-Semitic was taught in these workshops, we are well aware that in vetting any presenter, it is important to gather all the information about their approach, biases and backgrounds. We pledge our continued vigilance in this endeavor as we explore issues of tension in our world. Any presenter or organization that would deny the existence of another, be intolerant or have a clear and insidious bias against another would not be welcome at an OCHR sponsored event. In particular, Middle East issues are nuanced and complicated and we vow to educate ourselves on those nuances as we move forward."

I would ask why it is proper for the OCHRC to co-sponsor teacher training on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict as presented by anti-Israel university professors and CAIR officials. Why would the OCHRC partner in this training venture with an organization like the Fellowship of Reconciliation (FOR), an organization which supports the Boycott, Divest and Sanctions movement against Israel? FOR is the parent body of a vehemently anti-Zionist organization called Interfaith Peace Builders. This exercise was nothing more than pro-Islamic/anti-Israel indoctrination of OC teachers to say nothing of the Islamic propaganda.

https://www.standwithus.com/news/article.asp?id=5483

I am not now in a position to accuse anybody of anything. I don't know what the motive of the alleged killer of Blaze Bernstein was. Perhaps, I can be faulted for bringing Israel into the discussion. Chalk it up to my habit of trying to connect the dots. I am simply asking why, given their past history, the OCHRC seems so silent on an apparent hate crime.