extremely From October 8 to DC and Boulder
Jul 17, 2025
Wendy Sachs, a filmmaker known for her documentary October 8, dives deep into the rising antisemitic violence following the October 7 Hamas attack. She discusses the chilling shift from sympathy to organized mobilization at protests and on college campuses. Sachs reflects on the normalization of violence and the warnings she sounded before tragic events unfolded. The conversation also highlights the alarming role of social media and media's hesitance to address Jew-targeted hate, offering insights on fighting antisemitism effectively.
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Why The Filmmaker Started Immediately
- Wendy Sachs began filming two weeks after October 7 because she was shocked by celebrations of Hamas and silence toward victims.
- She documented Times Square and campus protests to unpack how condemnation disappeared so quickly.
Protests Were Organized, Not Spontaneous
- Sachs found the post-October 7 campus activism was not spontaneous but organized and pre-planned.
- She cites federal lawsuits and communications showing coordinated messaging and funding.
Funding And Academic Ties Amplify Extremism
- Sachs uncovered faculty and institutional ties to extremist groups and well-known foundations funding campus activism.
- She warns that some funding supports groups that push maximalist goals rather than peaceful coexistence.
