A professor who is accused of killing Jewish man Paul Kessler at a pro-Israel protest in Los Angeles on Sunday posted a video comparing Hamas to civil rights leaders.
Loay Alnaji, 50, a professor of computer science at Moorpark College, allegedly hit Kessler, 69, in the mouth with a megaphone, causing him to fall and hit his head on the pavement. Kessler succumbed to his injuries less than 24 hours later.
In video provided to the New York Post, Alnaji can be seen talking to a female police officer as first responders tend to Kessler.
"So you tried to hit the phone," the officer says, to which Alnaji nods his head and gestures toward the megaphone behind him.
StopAntisemitism posted a video on X, formerly Twitter, of what appears to be Alnaji’s Instagram account, where he reposted a video of activist Shahid King Bolsen comparing Hamas to historic freedom fighters.
"If someone asks me to condemn Hamas, I would say what’s the rush?" Bolsen says in the video. "You condemned Nelson Mandela and the ANC until you didn’t, until he was a hero. You condemned Mahatma Gandhi until you didn’t."
Police ruled Kessler’s death a homicide and have said they are looking into a 50-year-old suspect. While police would not confirm if this is Alnaji, Daily Mail reported that police searched his home Sunday evening.
Police have not arrested Alnaji but are expected to charge him with a hate crime enhancement, according to StopAntisemitism.