Betar, a century-old Jewish organization, expressed support for “American hero” Scott Hayes, a pro-Israel Iraq war veteran who was attacked by an anti-Israel agitator in Newton, Massachusetts, on Thursday and shot his attacker in what his lawyers have called “self-defense.”
Hayes was immediately arrested and has been charged with assault and battery with a dangerous weapon. His attacker, Caleb Gannon, who claims to be Jewish and has a history of anti-American and anti-Israel social media posts calling for violence, was not arrested at the scene but was charged with assault and battery on Friday. After being shot, he was taken to a nearby hospital and is expected to be OK.
Betar is demanding that Hayes’s charges be dropped.
“The people of Newton should be frightened and get out fast if the powers that be are essentially saying you cannot legally protest nor defend yourself if you are violently attacked,” Executive Director of Betar USA Michael Sinensky told the Washington Examiner. “This is a simple case of self defense… Charges should be dropped immediately against Scott Hayes.”
Video surfaced of the incident on Friday, reported by the Daily Wire, showing Gannon charge across the street to tackle Hayes, who was participating in a pro-Israel demonstration, before being shot in the stomach during the struggle.
Betar has been in contact with Hayes and is aiding him by helping with a GoFundMe to fund his legal defense and by promoting a petition demanding the charges be dropped. A spokesman for Betar told the Washington Examiner that the group has spoken with members of the Newton community and will have a presence in the town if there is a trial. “We won’t be silent.”
“We say Shame on Middlesex County District Attorney Marian Ryan for charging Scott Hayes,” the spokesman said. “Would it have been better if [Hayes] was choked to death?”
The Washington Examiner reached out to Ryan for comment.
‘I don’t condemn Hamas’: Gannon’s posts calling for violence before the attack
Before attacking Hayes, Gannon had a history of supporting violence in anti-American and anti-Israel social media posts. His account on X was suspended on Saturday, but the Washington Examiner still has screenshots of his posts.
In a post from May 29, he wrote, “I don’t condemn Hamas” for the mass slaughter, rape, torture, and kidnapping of Israelis, but instead said, “I condemn my family” for not recognizing what he called “the blatant genocide” happening in Gaza.
On Sept. 1, Gannon responded to a post from Secretary of State Antony Blinken mourning the death of Hersh Goldberg-Polin, who was executed by Hamas after being kidnapped on Oct. 7, 2023. Gannon wrote, “He was a terrorist in a foreign land, got what he deserved.”
On July 19, he responded to a post from Rep. Brian Mast (R-FL), who recounted how he “lost two legs, a finger, and countless friends in Afghanistan” and had an IED explode underneath him. Gannon wrote, “If only that IED was more powerful…whatta shame.”
On July 4, Gannon falsely claimed that “Israel is responsible for most of the death” during the Oct. 7 terrorist attack, posing this as “recorded fact” and not “a matter of opinion.”
He also reposted an Aug. 30 post that stated that “the correct response to zionists feeling unsafe on college campuses is ‘good, zionists should feel unsafe everywhere.’”
Gannon’s pinned post on his now-suspended X profile was one from Aug. 28 calling for the “end” of the United States government, which he described as “a rogue terrorist organization.” On Aug. 5, he wrote, “America suxxx, so much. America is hope for no one, and the world will finally begin to heal a major wound once the United States has dissolved.”
A Betar spokesman told the Washington Examiner, “It’s clear from Caleb Gannons background he wants America destroyed and supports the murder of innocent Americans like Hersh Goldberg-Polin. Gannon is a terror supporter who attacked peaceful protestors. Drop all charges now.”
“America is in turmoil,” the spokesman said. “Israel supporters are under attack nationwide and they can’t protect themselves if attacked? What does that say to the Jews and those who stand with Israel?”
Betar warns of campus violence after last semester’s escalation
“Are college students safe if attacked?” a spokesman for Betar asked. He said that if a peaceful protester can be charged for defending himself, “how can anyone [on campus] feel safe to protect themselves?”
“Harvard parents beware,” he added. “If your student is attacked by a Hamas supporter, the local DA will put you in jail if you respond too forcefully.”
The spokesman pointed to the encampment on Syracuse University’s campus this past semester, where a convicted killer was arrested by campus police. He questioned how students can feel safe when “they can’t even defend themselves.”
During last semester’s campus escalations, anti-Israel protesters took over entire areas on campus by setting up encampments at over 130 schools and forcibly occupying university buildings at many others. With the rise of anti-Israel activity on campus, antisemitic incidents skyrocketed, leading to many Jewish students feeling unsafe on campus, over 100 civil rights investigations being launched due to reports of antisemitism, and thousands of pro-Palestinian protesters being arrested.
Ahead of the fall semester, anti-Israel groups previewed their plans to the Washington Examiner, promising to come back with “renewed energy” and vowing there would be “no peace” on campus until their demands are met. Just two weeks into September, they have kept their promise.
On the first day of classes at Columbia University, two anti-Israel protesters were arrested after the group vandalized a historic statue. Four were arrested at the University of Michigan in the first week of the new semester after demonstrators disrupted a university event. A group of Jewish students were attacked with a glass bottle at the University of Pittsburgh, leaving two injured.
On Thursday, a group of anti-Israel protesters shut down a University of Washington Board of Regents meeting as Jewish leaders attempted to voice concerns about antisemitism on campus.
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Betar is a pro-Israel organization that provides free legal support to any American facing charges for defending themselves against anti-Israel violence. It has branches in numerous countries, including France, Australia, and Uruguay, and some of its past leaders include former Israeli Prime Ministers Menachem Begin, Yitzhak Shamir, and Benzion Netanyahu, father of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
The group will be holding a rally alongside Americans against Antisemitism in New York City on Sept. 24 at 5 p.m. Eastern outside the Regency Hotel where Netanyahu will be staying ahead of his speech before the United Nations General Assembly. They expect thousands to be in attendance as they “gather in a show of support” with a “simple” message: “Stand with Israel. Stand with the IDF. America: Hands off Israel.”
