San Francisco man charged with hate crime in brutal antisemitic assault

A Sonoma County man is facing hate crime charges in connection with a violent antisemitic assault that took place in the early morning hours of Saturday, June 14 in San Francisco’s Marina District, authorities announced this week.

Juan Diaz-Rivas, 36, has been charged with two counts of assault likely to cause great bodily injury, with hate crime enhancements. According to prosecutors, the June 14 attack was targeted and involved antisemitic slurs shouted by a group of six people. Diaz-Rivas is currently in custody and appeared in court on Tuesday, where a judge declined to release him.

According to San Francisco District Attorney Brooke Jenkins, the incident occurred around 2:20 am on Fillmore Street near Moulton Street. The 27-year-old victim and a friend were waiting for an Uber after a night out when a group approached, yelling “F*ck the Jews, Free Palestine,” according to the victim’s friend, Alana Gans, 28. When Gans responded that she was Jewish and asked them to stop, one of the men — allegedly Diaz-Rivas — came up to her and said, “F*ck you.”

The victim stood up to intervene, and the group allegedly began recording the encounter on their phones, laughing and repeating antisemitic slurs. As the victim and Gans tried to walk away, someone sucker-punched the victim, knocking him to the ground. Prosecutors said he hit his head, lost consciousness, and was repeatedly kicked and punched while down.

Gans told the San Francisco Chronicle her friend sustained a swollen lip and multiple head injuries. She also said a nearby Balboa Cafe employee who attempted to intervene was also attacked. Prosecutors confirmed the worker was punched and kicked while trying to break up the beating. The group fled, but briefly returned to yell “f*ck those Jews” before leaving again. When police arrived, Gans pointed out the suspects.

Diaz-Rivas was arrested and remains in custody. Assistant District Attorney Jamal Anderson argued for his continued detention, citing the severity and hate-driven nature of the crime. “We believe the defendant does pose a public safety risk,” Anderson told the court.

Judge Harry Jacobs agreed, ruling that Diaz-Rivas posed a danger to both the Jewish community and the public. The statements made during the attack, Jacobs said, “clearly sound like antisemitism.”

Defense attorney Adam Gasner, who is court-appointed to represent Diaz-Rivas, had asked for his client to be released on his own recognizance.

Some of the other alleged assailants have not yet been identified. The investigation remains active, and authorities are encouraging anyone with information to contact the San Francisco Police Department Tip Line at 1-415-575-4444 or text a tip to TIP411, beginning the message with “SFPD.” Tipsters may remain anonymous.

Diaz-Rivas is scheduled to return to court on July 2, when the judge will reconsider his custody status.