Rep. Shri Thanedar (D-MI) recently decided to end his membership in the Democratic Socialists of America after the organization promoted a rally celebrating Hamas’ violent attack on Israel last weekend. Thanedar denounced the anti-Semitism, suspending his involvement in the political movement.
Reportedly, the rally in question involved over 1,000 participants, where some stomped on an Israeli flag and demonstrated support for the deadly attack on the Israelis. The ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict has claimed approximately 2,500 lives, including 27 American citizens, per the latest reports.
Rep. Thanedar joined several other progressive Congressional Democrats, including Rep. Alexandra Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) and Rep. Jamaal Bowman (D-NY), who condemned the Democratic Socialist rally.
“Today I am officially renouncing my membership in the Democratic Socialists of America,” Rep. Thanedar announced on social media. “After the brutal terrorist attacks on Israel, which included the indiscriminate murder, rape, and kidnapping of innocent men, women, and children, I can no longer associate with an organization unwilling to call out terrorism in all its forms.”
Thanedar pointed out that an organization that condones and celebrates the horrific actions taken against Israel is not a group he can be affiliated with. The representative affirmed his support of Israel, maintaining there is no equivocation in this violent scenario.
“Sunday’s hate-filled and antisemitic rally in New York City, promoted by the NYC-DSA, makes it impossible for me to continued my affiliation. I stand with Israel and its right to defend itself. There is no place for moral equivocation in the face of unadulterated evil as we have seen from Hamas,” he continued.
“I strongly believe that ending my association with DSA serves my constituents’ interests as they expect me to represent them by helping to build a better, more just world, not fanning the flames of hatred,” Thanedar concluded in his message posted to X (formerly Twitter).
I renounce my membership in the DSA pic.twitter.com/rtpxStKW2Q
— Congressman Shri Thanedar (@RepShriThanedar) October 11, 2023
The Democratic Socialists of America responded to the controversial rally in their name. “On Saturday, in anticipation of escalatory violence to come, we tweeted a promotion of a rally in solidarity with the people of Palestine. We understand why many, including our allies, were shocked by the timing and the tone of this message in a moment of profound fear and grief. We are sorry for the confusion our post caused and for not making our values explicit,” the New York City chapter wrote.
“We are also concerned that some have chosen to focus on a rally while ignoring the root causes of violence in the region, the far-right Netanyahu government’s escalating human rights violations and explicitly genocidal rhetoric, and the dehumanization of the Palestinian people,” the group continued.
However, not all Democratic leaders in America have shared the same sentiments as Rep. Thanedar. The American Tribune reported on the comments of many high-ranking Democrats that have drawn harsh criticism from supporters of Israel. Some members of the “Squad,” made up of Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.), Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.), Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, (D-N.Y.), and Rep. Cori Bush (D-Mo.), took the crisis as an opportunity to advance a political message in support of Palestine. Even White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre slammed the comments, labeling them “repugnant.”
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