More than 100 people rallied on a Berkeley highway overpass Sunday to bring attention to the plight of East Bay native Hersh Goldberg-Polin and other hostages held captive in Gaza, hoping to seize on the momentum from his parents’ address at the Democratic National Convention days prior.
The rally, following months of weekly vigils in Lafayette and Berkeley, carried additional resonance because of Goldberg-Polin’s ties to Berkeley and in the wake of his parents’ speech, which was viewed by millions of Americans last week and brought many to tears.
Goldberg-Polin is a 23-year-old American-Israeli dual citizen who has been held captive by Hamas for more than 10 months after being badly injured in the Oct. 7 terrorist attack at the Nova music festival, which he attended with friends.
In an emotional address to the American public on the convention’s third night, Rachel Goldberg-Polin and Jon Polin called on their son to “stay strong” and on world leaders to “Bring them home,” referring to the 109 hostages believed held by Hamas. Rachel described Hersh as a “happy-go-lucky, laid back, good humored, respectful and curious” young man with a love of soccer, music and geography. Audience members were visibly moved during the speech and gave the parents a standing ovation.
Aaron Katler helped organize the Berkeley rally. He said he is a lifelong friend of Hersh’s parents and that they all “sort of” lived together in Berkeley when Hersh was a baby. Katler, who heads a Bay Area Jewish entrepreneurship startup, traveled to Israel for a month this summer and has spent time with the distraught parents since their son was captured.
“It’s not a political rally. It’s not a political statement,” he said at the demonstration, as cars driving below the overpass honked, acknowledging those waving flags above. “It’s a humanitarian statement.”
Katler said it felt “beyond surreal” to think about what Hersh is going through. “I spent a lot of time with [Rachel and Jon] and other hostage families,” he said. “Every day is like the first day. It’s just day one over and over again.”
Demonstrators crowded on the overpass above I-80 near University Avenue, displaying American and Israeli flags to passing motorists along with signs that said “Hope is mandatory,” something Hersh’s mom often says. Goldberg-Polin has become a global ambassador for her son and the other hostages, appearing in a stream of television interviews and meeting with leaders all over the world, from Elon Musk to the pope.
Pelinnor Calderon wore a head covering and held a sign that said “Bring our family home!” showing pictures of hostages, including her cousin Ofer Kalderon, a father of four taken from Kibbutz Nir Oz.
Notwithstanding the dire circumstances surrounding the event, the mood was also hopeful. Organizers served coffee and chocolate chip cookies, Hersh’s favorite. Attendees played music and danced an Israeli line dance, wearing yellow ribbons and stickers with the number “324,” the number of days that the hostages had been held in captivity.
Berkeley police were on hand to monitor the event; however they were not able to prevent an attack that occurred early in the day before they arrived. A man wearing combat boots, motorcycle gloves and a mustache, who appeared to be in his 30s and was carrying a can of beer, approached the demonstration and started screaming at people, trying to provoke a fight. “I will f**k you up!” he yelled. Protesters tried to de-escalate the situation. Then he threw the can, which was full of liquid, from close range at a woman, who fell. He then fled. The incident was captured on video shared with J.
“Some people can’t see beyond their own hatred,” Katler said, adding, “there are idiots everywhere.” He didn’t feel the disturbance soured the overall atmosphere, which was one of solidarity and “comfort.”
“The vast majority of people are on the side of peace, whether they’re Israelis or Jews or Palestinians or Arabs,” Katler said. “Everybody wants to be able to live in peace and harmony. And not have to worry about their kids being stolen and kept in a tunnel for a year.”
David Holsey, another event organizer, said its purpose was to join in community with others and to keep the hostages top of mind for the American public.
“We’re just gonna be a very visible presence,” he said.