Hate Crimes and Antisemitism

Santa Clara County prosecutors have charged three men, including California attorney Bruneil Henry Chamaki, in connection with a March 8, 2026 daytime assault outside the Augustine restaurant in San Jose’s upscale Santana Row district, after Israeli‑American victims reported that antisemitic slurs were shouted during the attack. Chamaki, 32, of Morgan Hill, and brothers Roma and Ramon Akoyans have each surrendered on arrest warrants and face a mix of felony and misdemeanor assault and battery counts, with arraignment set for May 12. District Attorney Jeff Rosen said his office is not yet filing hate‑crime enhancements but is actively investigating the incident as a potential antisemitic hate crime, stressing that "our public spaces have to be safe for all to enjoy without fear." San Jose police say surveillance footage, social media clips and public tips helped identify the suspects, and they are continuing to work "methodically" with prosecutors as community concern over antisemitic incidents and bias‑motivated violence remains high nationwide. Chamaki’s former firm, Murphy Austin Adams Schoenfeld LLP, said he left in January and issued a statement condemning antisemitism and "acts of hatred in any form," reflecting broader backlash online to reports that a licensed lawyer is among the accused.

San Jose police are investigating a March 8, 2026 assault at the Santana Row shopping district as a possible antisemitic hate crime after video showed multiple men pinning and punching a victim on the ground before fleeing. The San Jose Police Department says three male suspects approached two men, leading to a confrontation in which the victims later alleged the assailants used antisemitic language; both victims were treated at the scene for minor injuries. Footage from the outdoor dining area shows onlookers shouting "Knock it off! Stop!" as one man repeatedly strikes the victim while another restrains his leg. An X account, @TheJewishAlly, claims the men were attacked after being heard speaking Hebrew, though police have not independently confirmed that detail. The SJPD Assaults Unit has opened an active investigation and is treating the case as a potential hate crime, underscoring heightened concern over antisemitic incidents in U.S. public spaces.