A disturbing incident unfolded on June 29 at the West Asheville Library, where an estimated 60-80 people attended an event titled “Strategic Lessons from the Palestinian Resistance.” During the event, three Asheville residents claimed they were attacked, with two individuals identifying as Jewish.
David Moritz, Monica Buckley, and Bob Campbell, all local residents, stated that they attended the event to learn about what was being taught in their community. Buckley live-streamed the session for approximately half an hour before someone noticed and asked about the purpose of the recording. When a question was posed about portraying the event positively, Buckley’s phone was suddenly knocked out of her hand.
“I just thought it would be safer to livestream what was happening,” Buckley explained. “I was just recording people surrounding us, and a woman took the phone and started running towards the door. When I tried to get it back, I faced a swarm of dozens of people who attacked me, and then Bob and David rushed to help me, only to become targets themselves.”
Buckley’s account described a violent outbreak, with multiple individuals punching her, stomping on her ankles, and attempting to choke her. The incident has led to widespread concern and fear, particularly considering the recent Gallup survey that discovered 49% of Americans believe antisemitism has become a serious problem in the United States.
The survey, published on Monday, also found that 32% of respondents deem antisemitism a “somewhat” serious issue, while 10% viewed it as “not much of a problem.”
