A crowd gathered Friday at a Thousand Oaks intersection to honor Paul Kessler, a pro-Israel protester who died last year.

Kessler, 69, of Thousand Oaks, was injured during a confrontation with Moorpark resident Loay Alnaji on Nov. 5, 2023. He died early the next morning.

Alnaji, 51, had joined other pro-Palestinian protesters at the intersection of Thousand Oaks and Westlake boulevards, which had become a regular protest site for those on both sides of the conflict in the weeks after the Hamas attack. on October 7, 2023 against Israel and Israel’s deadly response.

On Friday, Kessler’s supporters said he will not be forgotten.

“This type of tragedy occurring in our own community is beyond comprehension. I hope our community can come together and heal,” said Karen Blum of Westlake Village, who attended the memorial.

Prosecutors with the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office allege that Alnaji used a megaphone to hit Kessler, who was knocked to the sidewalk. Kessler hit the back of the head and suffered injuries from which he could not recover. He died at Los Robles Regional Medical Center on November 6, 2023.

Prosecutors have charged Alnaji with involuntary manslaughter by an unlawful act. Alnaji has pleaded not guilty.

The defense claims that Alnaji acted in self-defense and that Kessler died because a previously diagnosed brain tumor caused him to collapse.

Rabbi Mark Blazer said the community wanted to commemorate the tragedy a year after Kessler’s death. Blazer said this could have happened to any Jewish person.

“When he came out last year, right now, just carrying an Israeli flag, he had no idea that would be his last day on Earth,” Blazer said.

Blazer was saddened that Friday’s event followed an incident involving anti-Semitic attacks on Israeli soccer fans in Amsterdam that resulted in multiple injuries and arrests.

“This hasn’t been a day, or a week, or even a year, but it has been a very, very difficult year,” he said.

Israel Bachar, Israel’s consul general in the Southwest Pacific, said the community should commemorate Kessler and ensure his bravery is not forgotten.

“We are not going to forget it,” he said.

Reporter Kathleen Wilson contributed to this report..

Wes Woods II covers West County for the Ventura County Star. Contact him at [email protected], 805-437-0262 or @JournoWes.

This article originally appeared in the Ventura County Star: Thousand Oaks protester Paul Kessler honored one year after his death