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SLO County Diversity Coalition accused of fueling antisemitism

August 31, 2025

By KAREN VELIE

Alleged calls for the massacre of Jews and for excluding Jewish organizations at an Aug. 8 event in San Luis Obispo have led to demands that the groups involved denounce the antisemitic statements.

“We’re honored to co-sponsor a special screening of the powerful documentary “Israelism” … at Unitarian Universalist San Luis Obispo,” according to an Aug. 5 invitation from the SLO County Diversity Coalition. “We hope you’ll join us for an evening of reflection, learning, and dialogue.”

During the Aug. 8 event, the sponsors showed “Israelism,” a movie about two young American Jews and their changing views on Israel, followed by a panel discussion. During the discussion, there were alleged calls to boycott Jewish organizations and for a repeat of the Oct. 7 massacre in Israel.

One of the panelists, Cal Poly Palestinian Professor Ashraf Tubeileh, participated in the May 23, 2024 pro-Palestinian protest at the campus entrance. He was charged with unlawful assembly and obstruction of a thoroughfare. Tubeileh is currently on misdemeanor diversion, which is set to end in Jan. 2026.

On Aug. 19, a coalition of Jewish organizations issued a statement condemning comments made during the Aug. 8 event.

“There is no room for hatred of Jews in San Luis Obispo County,” according to the Aug. 19 statement. “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.

“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 Aug. 8 event and undergo training and education to meet their missions as inclusive, bridge-building organizations.”

The board of directors of the Diversity Coalition SLO County responded with an apology to members of the community “who are experiencing unintended pain and distress caused by the screening of the film” and the comments that followed. 

“We have co-sponsored many programs and activities that help to educate, enhance awareness, and foster understanding across a wide diversity of issues,” according to the apology. “We do not necessarily agree with or condone the comments of invited participants or members of the audience. Any comment or statement that dehumanizes or threatens an individual or community is unacceptable.”

The Unitarian Universalists did not apologize in their response, instead saying they “hold that pain and concern with care.”

“We grieve the loss of life among both Palestinians and Israelis and decry the events of October 7, 2023 and all acts of violence to resolve disputes,” the Unitarian Universalists’ responded. “We also recognize the ongoing suffering of Palestinians and the harm that continues to devastate families and communities. There can be no peace and no justice unless it is for all people.”

On Aug. 28, the coalition of Jewish organizations thanked the Diversity Coalition for their apology, while reiterating their request that the coalition take ownership for what transpired and address the specific allegations.

“The Diversity Coalition’s statement claims that it ‘has always unequivocally condemned any expression of antisemitism or hate speech,’” the Jewish organizations wrote in their Aug. 28 reply. “Yet, it failed to do so at the Aug. 8 event, and it continues to fail in this regard. Now is the time to boldly condemn the statements, widely, and publicly.”

SLO County District Attorney Dan Dow weighed in on Aug. 28, asking local public officials to join together in issuing a public statement condemning all forms of antisemitism.

“I also call upon the Diversity Coalition to take ownership for what transpired at their Aug. 8 event,” Dow wrote. “They should have stopped and addressed the hateful speech when it happened. But since they did not, they should now unequivocally condemn it and apologize for not doing it sooner.

“Their recent actions are directly contrary to their stated mission of promoting diversity and do not align with our SLO County values,” Dow added. “Sadly, the increase of antisemitic hate speech across our country is at an all-time historic high and I, for one, will not allow SLO to be a sanctuary for antisemitic speech or any other hate speech.”

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anti-zionism takes courage. paying taxes to facilitate genocide isn’t patriotic. pass it along.


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So much for DEI and our City Council who espouse and embrace it…


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Dow added. “Sadly, the increase of antisemitic hate speech across our country is at an all-time historic high and I, for one, will not allow SLO to be a sanctuary for antisemitic speech or any other hate speech.”


We consent to be Governed, not Ruled over. You don’t get to allow or disallow anything.

You enfore the laws.


The public has every right to voice their views as they see fit. We have the right to judge them for those words and actions. That is how it works.


I for one can separate the Jewish people and religion and their plight from the Israeli Jewish State. The State was attacked and had a right to respond.

Bloated starving children that resulted are not part of any acceptable response. That makes people very angry, but not necessarily anti-semitic for feeling that way.

Dying babies piss me off. I don’t care who they pray to.

We should have cared about the Jews in the 1930s and we should cate about the Palestinian child in 2025.


The rise on anti-semitic discourse is the direct result of the State of Israel actions, which unfortunately affect Jews worldwide.


You can keep your war over Semantics. Both sides keep killing the other’s babies. That I do know.


Never again meant never again–for all people.


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What’s all the squalering about? Ya don’t like the movie? You get up and leave. Case closed.


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The vast majority of experts and scholars on genocide, including many Jewish and Israeli, have come to the conclusion that Israel is committing genocide in Gaza. The US is the only country in the world supporting Israel in their war crimes, crimes against humanity and starvation of children. It is against our values, morals and national interest to back a country that is committing atrocities and ethnic cleansing. It is time to say enough to Israel.


Please read the reports by the International Association of Genocide Scholars, Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, and two Israeli human rights groups, Yesh Din and Btselem to learn about what is going on. Yes, anti Semitism is abhorrent and evil, but it is not anti Semitic to criticize Israel for the genocide in Gaza


-40

Blatant lies. Israel didn’t start this, but they WILL finish it. Gaza homed and supported Hamas, and thus brought this war to their home. Those objecting to Israel’s conduct of this war have little understanding of what war actually is, or how much forbearance the IDF has shown.


Perhaps focusing on Hamas war crimes would be more appropriate, but I expect that this comment, like so many of mine on this and other subjects, will be censored by the squeamish.


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Furthermore, it was Hamas that stole the aid meant to feed the people. It was Hamas that uses innocent civilians as human shields. Israel warns of upcoming raids with announcements and leaflets so the innocents can shelter. Notice how many Muslim countries offer to take in refugees from Gaza and leave the militants to fight? I can’t think of one. I would like to be corrected if possible.


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LIE!

Posting lies again from a group of “genocide experts” calling Israel in Gaza a genocide.


500 people in group only 25% voted = 125


83% voted for genocide


So,103 people voted for a lie, and 22 say it’s not happening, out of a group of 500 that nobody has ever heard of.


We don’t believe you, and neither can Gaza.


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Bloated starving children don’t LIE Army. It is a state of being for them.

My father fought in WWII and Korea. I don’t remember him telling stories of bombing civilians. The Nazi’s did those things then. The Russians are doing that now in Ukraine and yes the Israeli’s are doing that in Gaza. Hamas is a terrorist organization. You still don’t get to kill and starve babies in pursuit of eradicating them.


-4

Dresden, Tokyo, Hiroshima, Nagasaki. Total war is exactly that, and there are no innocents. But the vast majority of the blame almost always lies with the aggressors, and hiding among civilians and children, and hijacking’s humanitarian aide from them, allocates blame to Hamas, not Israel.


10

It is OK to be a war monger. That is your right.

I hate to tell you but there are rules to acceptable warfare. Your concept of total war was replaced by the Geneva Accords.

Just curious, if they rape the women before they are murdered does that change things. Can they torture kids with your total war concept?.


-12

Yup; like most Israelis and Americans, I DO get my war mongering on fast when my homeland’s attacked. Proud of that, and of my fellow countrymen that’ll stand to when we’re threatened.


As for the raping, torture, and killing, best ask the child bakers, corpse rapers, and hostage takers that are Hamas and the Gaza freelancers that attacked Israel on 10-7. They’re kinda the experts on that. Clear enough?


9

Understood. You support genocide and starvation of children


-6

Wow; typical lib slur. I “support genocide n starvation”? Really? Dat all you got when yer losing the argument? Emphasis on loser…


6

Your own words confirm my accusation. If the shoe fits….


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My words do nothing of the sort, tiny keyboard warrior. You sling pejoratives and accusations because you apparently can’t make cogent arguments or engage in constructive social discourse. (This reply serves, but I prefer the first on I made that didn’t get past the censors)…


2

Very easy to solve this problem: Muslim Egypt needs to open it’s border with Muslim Gaza. See, solved.


3

Keep dreaming. No country other than the US will assist Israel in ethnic cleansing. It is a war crime and a crime against humanity. There will be more indictments in addition to Netanyahu and Gallant for genocide and crimes against humanity


-3

These groups, these “diversity” and “multi culti” groups are childish attempts at trying to integrate people into society who have no desire to be integrated. The best thing society as a whole should do is ignore them. Maybe someday this so-called diversity will either meld in or go home and try to be happy without killing their neighbors. It’s all so childish and tiresome.


18

Dan Dow wants people to apologize? B please. When is he going to apologize for not prosecuting Paso Robles police office Chris McGuire for stalking and raping a woman while in duty? That cost us $1.25 million. When will he apologize for not prosecuting Sheriff Parkinson for negligent homicide in the death of Andrew Holland. That cost us $5 million. Why why is pastor Dow even even involved in this?


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