On Sunday, Nov. 12, over 300 pro-Israeli demonstrators lined the intersection of Thousand Oaks Boulevard and Westlake Boulevard after local Jewish resident Paul Kessler died from complications of a protest altercation.

69-year-old Kessler was a Jewish man from Thousand Oaks and a longtime member of nearby Temple Etz Chaim. In response to a “Freedom for Palestine Protest” being hosted nearby due to the Israel-Hamas War, Kessler organized a counterprotest led by “We Are Pro-Israel” for the same day, Nov. 5.

On Nov. 5 at approximately 3:20 p.m., the Ventura County Sheriff’s Communications Office received multiple calls regarding a possible assault at the intersection. Once authorities arrived, Kessler was found lying on the ground, conscious and responsive, bleeding from the head and mouth.

Kessler was then transferred to Los Robles Regional Medical Center for advanced medical treatment and later succumbed to his injuries at approximately 3 a.m.

The Jewish community of Thousand Oaks has been grieving the loss of Kessler jointly through a collection of gatherings. Rabbi Ari Averbach, Kessler’s Rabbi at Temple Etz Chaim, delivered a statement in the wake of Kessler’s passing at the event, “Standing Together: A Night of Community.”

“There are times that we can’t fix what’s going on, we don’t have the answer. We don’t have anything easy about it, but our job is to be together to cry. We’re mourning, we are healing, and we are processing. We are not here tonight for answers or to fix anything, because we know that’s impossible,” said Rabbi Averbach.

Sunday’s Pro-Israeli demonstration lasted through the afternoon, with attendees waving flags, chanting, playing Hebrew music and driving vehicles hosting Israel flags and digital billboards with “Kidnapped to Gaza” posters around the intersection.

American political interests, such as “Trump 2024” and “Don’t Tread on Me” flags were the only non-Israel presence at the event, with no counter-protest.

Alvin Schrage, a local pro-Israeli protester present at Sunday’s demonstration, expressed the community’s message surrounding the passing of Kessler.

“[The protest is] here because of what happened last week, but I understand that there’s been no conclusion reached yet,” Schrage said. “The main purpose here is him, the man that died, and the conflict in Israel.”

No arrests have been made in relation to Kessler’s death. To address concerns from the community, the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office held a press conference on Nov. 7 to provide an update on this active death investigation.

Investigators stressed the difficulty of navigating the case without having photos or videos of Kessler’s fall, as many social media users have debated whether Kessler’s injuries were caused by a “blow to the face” by a pro-Palestinian protester, or from a fall.

Deputies also received conflicting statements from pro-Israeli and pro-Palestinian witnesses about the altercation and who the aggressor was.

“The information we’re getting is conflicting with one another,” Fryhoff said. “There is clearly an interaction between the two, but what that level of interaction is is still unclear. That’s why we’re asking for any video footage that we can have.”

At the press conference, Chief Medical Examiner of Ventura County Dr. Christopher Young further explained that the autopsy performed on the morning of Nov. 6 demonstrated non-lethal injuries to the left side of his face and a lethal injury from the back of the head; both consistent with injuries sustained from a fall.

The cause of death was further certified as blunt force head trauma, with the manner of death being homicide. The manner of death is a medical legal determination that does not indicate that a crime has been committed but rather states that the actions of another person contributed to the death of the person.

The current suspect, a 50-year-old male Moorpark resident advocating for Palestine, has not yet been publicly identified by police. Authorities cannot disclose what witnesses have told about interactions between Kessler and this suspect before the injury.

“We’ve identified him as a suspect because as of right now, he’s the only one that we have information on that may have been involved in an interaction with our victim,” Fryhoff explained. “That does not mean there’s not others. We’re waiting for that information to come out from our residents who were there.”

A pro-Palestinian Moorpark College student present at the initial “Freedom for Palestine Protest” on Nov. 5 recalled moments leading up to the altercation that left Kessler injured. Despite the tragic outcome, the student noted that there was calmness between both parties before the merging of groups.

“On the other side by the Shell [gas station], a couple of people had decided to cross over and stand next to the pro-Israelis in peace; the intention was absolutely peace,” the student said.

From there, the student recalled hearing a lot of yelling between pro-Israelis and pro-Palestinians. Out of concern for their safety, the student distanced themselves from the altercation.

“From that point, I had a feeling that something was going to break out and I was really worried,” the student said. “I felt like I heard pushing behind me, in the sense like to get us out of the way. And then, I kept walking away, like not in that direction, because I was starting to get scared. And then I heard a scream, and by the time I turned around I had seen Kessler on the floor.”

As an active pro-Palestinian voice in the local community, the student declared the group’s disapproval of violence worldwide and reiterated the protest’s overall message to save lives.

“I want to say on the behalf of all of us that we do not condone violence in any way,” the student explained. “We do not support the killing of any human being, it does not matter who you are or where you are from. Unfortunately living in this more conservative area, we do get a negative connotation assigned to us. We were not protesting in support of Hamas and any violence, we were protesting in support of saving innocent lives.”

Regarded as “an ardent Democrat” with “a sharp wit” who “loved a good takedown,” by former Thousand Oaks Acorn editor, Kyle Jorrey, Kessler and his tragic passing has continued to impact the local community.

On Nov. 9, Moorpark College administration sent an email to all students addressing these concerns in the wake of the tragedy.

“Moorpark College bears a responsibility to our students, our employees, and our local residents to do everything in our power to ensure the safety and wellbeing of every member of our campus. This is a responsibility we take very seriously, as it is paramount to our mission to serve as a beacon of opportunity and support in our community.”

The campus is taking steps to increase security presence, provide social and emotional support through the Student Health Center and give wrap-around services and support for any student who wishes to report an incident or threat on campus through the Behavioral Assessment and Care Team.

“We are encouraging everyone in our community to reach out for help, report incidents of concern, and engage one another with compassion, inclusivity, and respect.”

*This is a series following the effects of the Israel-Hamas war on Moorpark College and local Ventura County residents. The previous story can be found here.*