Hundreds protest after Oakland man is injured in West Bank

Just 72 hours after an Oakland man was injured by the Israel Defense Forces in the West Bank, some 300 people gathered in front of the Israeli Consulate in San Francisco to voice their outrage.

Tristan Anderson, 38, was wounded March 13 in the West Bank village of Naalin during a protest against Israel’s separation barrier. Several hundred protesters marched from the village toward the barrier. The Israeli military said there was heavy stone-throwing and troops fired tear gas. The fist-sized canister fractured Anderson’s skull.

On March 16, pro- and anti-Israel factions congregated in front of the consulate on Montgomery Street. The protest drew an energetic crowd of activists — musicians, community organizers and earthy Berkeley-ites with dreadlocks and thick wool sweaters — many of whom held signs or banners in support of Anderson.

On the other side of the street, about 25 pro-Israeli supporters stood peacefully waving American and Israeli flags.

The anti-Israel faction stretched along half a block of Montgomery, with demonstrators packed tightly along the sidewalk. Speakers addressed the crowd with a megaphone.

“Thank you for bearing witness to these times and these tragedies,” said Anderson’s friend Terri Compost as she addressed the crowd.

Pro- and anti-Israel groups demonstrate in front of the Israeli Consulate in San Francisco on March 16. photo/stacey palevsky

Another friend, who gave only her “tree-sit name,” Dumpster Muffin, said Anderson “thinks he can save the whole world, but I wish he’d stay safe in the process.”

Dumpster Muffin and Anderson were members of the group that occupied trees on the U.C. Berkeley campus for nearly two years in protest of a plan to build an athletic facility on the site of a grove of oaks and redwoods. She noted that Anderson had traveled to nearly 40 countries and had been to Israel before.

Though the protests were mostly peaceful, by the end of the hourlong, late-afternoon demonstration — when Anderson’s supporters left their sidewalk post and began marching through downtown — the tension had escalated into a shouting match.

“Go back to Germany, you racist pigs,” one man yelled at the pro-Israel group. “You’re worse than the Nazis.”

“Oh, and you’re a nice peaceful activist, huh?” responded Mike Harris, one of the leaders of S.F. Voice for Israel, the group that organized the counterprotest.

But for the most part, the two protests were respectful of one another. Even when the Palestinian supporters crossed the street to stand next to the Israel supporters, the result was only a heated discussion between people with opposing viewpoints.

“If someone wants to get into a civil discussion, we’re happy to. But if they yell anti-Semitic comments, we want nothing to do with them,” Harris said. “We’re not trying to change those people’s minds because we’re not going to.”

Added Benjamin Pollack, “But if we can place even one kernel of doubt in their mind, then it’s worth it.”

Anderson was traveling with his girlfriend, Gabrielle Silverman, as volunteers with the International Solidarity Movement when he was injured. The couple arrived in Israel in February and had planned to spend a few months in the Middle East, Silverman told the Associated Press.

“Of course this is a tragedy, but [Tristan] chose to put himself in a closed military zone where violent demonstrations were taking place,” Harris said. “He voluntarily put himself in that position.”

After being hit by the tear-gas canister, Anderson was taken to Tel HaShomer Hospital near Tel Aviv, where he underwent surgery. At press time, he remained in critical condition, but had been moved from a respirator and was breathing on his own.

He is conscious and somewhat responsive, Dumpster Muffin said.

Protesters marched through downtown San Francisco for about an hour after demonstrating in front of the consulate. They blocked traffic near the Powell Street BART station.

Around 7 p.m., five protesters were arrested outside the consulate. The San Francisco Chronicle reported that they were booked for assault, resisting arrest and attempting to free a companion from police custody.

The Associated Press contributed to this story.

Read Stacey Palevsky's reaction the protest.