Personal security companies in Hollywood have reported a significant increase in requests from Jewish celebrities in the aftermath of the horrific Hamas terrorist attacks in Israel and the resulting rise of antisemitism in the United States.
After more than 1,400 Israelis and 30 Americans were killed in Israel on October 7, demonstrations in support of Palestine — and even Hamas — have spread across the United States and around the world. These issues have led to many Jewish Americans feeling unsafe and living in fear of antisemitic attacks.
Brown University students demonstrate in support of Hamas.
Hundreds of students joined a protest chanting the Hamas slogan “From
the river to the sea, Palestine will be free.”— Oli London (@OliLondonTV) October 25, 2023
Some pro-Palestine and pro-Hamas protests have even escalated to violence in the U.S., including a demonstration in New York City that led to clashes with police.
Hamas supporters attack NYPD officers during an anti-Israel protest tonight in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn, NY.
H/T @ViralNewsNYC
— Oli London (@OliLondonTV) October 22, 2023
Amid fears of escalating violence, New York City and Los Angeles-based Global Threat Solutions CEO Kenneth D. Bombace told the Hollywood Reporter in a statement that the company has “had a sharp increase in requests from our Jewish clients. They’re afraid they could be a target.”
Bombace, whose clients include celebrities and billionaires, went on to explain that his security company provides real-time “geofencing” data to alert clients to attacks, “shootings” and “even hostile social media posts” in their area.
“We provide detailed reporting on protests that could potentially turn violent — and where they are in relation to where our clients’ offices are,” he added.
According to a recent report from the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) Center on Extremism, there were a total of 193 antisemitic incidents in the U.S. in the two weeks since Hamas attacked Israel — with 77 of those attacks being directly linked to what is happening in Gaza amid Israel’s attempts to eliminate the terrorist group.
The report then explained that 109 out of the more than 400 anti-Israel rallies in the U.S. have featured explicit or strong implicit support for Hamas or violence against Israelis. In one such protest outside of the Israeli consulate in New York City, activists proudly bragged about and cheered on the murder of Israeli civilians.
At a gathering outside of the Israel Consulate in NYC, supporters of Hamas brag about and cheer the Hamas terrorist attack and the murder of innocent people in Israel. pic.twitter.com/rSkFHytuQz
— Hilliard (@byhilliard) October 9, 2023
Speaking with the Hollywood Reporter, Los Angeles-based World Protection Group president and CEO Kent Moyer stated that his Jewish clients are fearing violence in the U.S.
“Obviously they’re scared,” Moyer told the outlet, adding that Jewish clients have requested their guards be armed and also be available for “graveyard shifts.”
“We’ve been on a hiring rampage,” he continued. “I just sent an alert out to all our clients that there’s a Palestinian protest on Saturday down in Pershing Square. I’ve also advised them that [U.S. and Israeli] embassies and consulates around the world, and mainly in the Middle East, are the sites of massive protests.”
Moyer, whose clients include several celebrities and 11 billionaires, also noted that he has “never recommended clients get a gun” in his 30 years providing personal security — but this event has changed his tune.
“But I do now, 100 percent,” Moyer wrote, explaining that at the bare minimum, “All elderly people and women should carry pepper spray. I just think this is going to get worse. The situation is escalating.”
