At a special meeting of the San Diego City Council’s Public Safety Committee Friday, Councilwoman Marni von Wilpert condemned rising antisemitism and hate crimes and spoke about the need for greater education and enforcement.
Von Wilpert, chair of the committee, also announced her intention to have the “RUTH: Remember Us The Holocaust” history exhibit travel throughout all San Diego libraries.
“From harassment and physical threats to vandalism and the use of hate symbols that fuel a reality of fear, misinformation and harm, our Jewish neighbors are under sustained barrages of antisemitism and bigotry,” von Wilpert said. “We must stand shoulder to shoulder to protect every neighbor – and that includes raising up and protecting our Jewish community and standing firmly against antisemitism in all its forms.
“Our strength as a city comes from our diversity, our compassion and our willingness to look out for one another.”
The RUTH project features the stories of San Diego Holocaust survivors through an immersive experience “shedding light on all victims of the Holocaust to demonstrate how it was not only Jewish victims but other victims that followed in the footsteps of their unfortunate fate as well.”
The exhibit, recently featured at the La Jolla/Riford Library, has 16 life-size cardboard cutouts of Holocaust survivors, 14 of whom still live in San Diego.
Friday’s committee meeting included presentations from Deputy District Attorney Christina Arrollado, assistant chief of the Gang Prosecution Division, and Deputy District Attorney Stephen Marquardt, who heads up the Hate Crimes Team within the Special Operations Division.
The San Diego Police Department also highlighted how the Real-Time Operations Center, a “technology-driven hub” created to enhance crime response, situational awareness, and officer and community safety, has been key during critical incidents and major events.
“We’re not just seeing isolated incidents; this is connected to a larger trend. This reality underscores why vigilance, enforcement, education and accountability matter,” she said.
Von Wilpert and Councilman Raul Campillo additionally announced they are speaking with Gov. Gavin Newsom’s office to request that he and the legislature reopen the California State Nonprofit Security Grant Program for eligible organizations with security concerns.
