The Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) have withdrawn their endorsement of Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, a prominent member of the progressive "Squad" and Democratic representative for New York.
The DSA cited her stance on Israel as the primary reason for their decision, stating that she was not sufficiently anti-Israel. The organization expressed their disappointment with Ocasio-Cortez's recent public panel, where she was accused of conflating anti-Zionism with antisemitism. "AOC recently hosted a public panel with leaders from the Jewish Council for Public Affairs, lobbyists for the IHRA definition of antisemitism. On this panel, she conflated anti-Zionism with antisemitism and condemned boycotting Zionist institutions, the DSA stated, labeling the event as a "deep betrayal."
As reported by The Post Millennial, the DSA announced on June 23rd that they would only endorse Ocasio-Cortez if she met certain conditions. These included publicly opposing all funding to Israel, including the Iron Dome, participating in the DSA Federal Socialists in Office Committee, opposing all criminalization of Anti-Zionism, and supporting the antisemitic BDS (Boycott, Divest, and Sanction) movement.
The DSA's decision to withdraw their endorsement was prompted by a request from the New York City DSAs Steering Committee (NYC-DSA SC). The NYC-DSA SC had initially requested the endorsement, but later asked for its withdrawal, citing the timing after the New York Democratic Primary and the lack of evidence that Ocasio-Cortez was meeting the set conditions. Despite the national withdrawal, Ocasio-Cortez remains endorsed by the DSA's New York City chapter.
The DSA acknowledged Ocasio-Cortez's history of opposing Israel, citing her co-sponsorship of several House Resolutions. However, they expressed concerns over some of her votes and her support for strengthening the Iron Dome and other defense systems. The organization reiterated its commitment to the end of the Jewish state in favor of Palestine, stating that to defeat capitalism, they must demand more from their leaders.
The DSA's decision comes in the wake of the Hamas massacre of over 1,200 Israelis and the kidnapping of over 200 hostages on October 7. The organization began organizing rallies in support of Palestinian terrorists against Israel, using graphics of Hamas terrorists parachuting into Israel for their advertisements. This move was widely condemned, with some Democratic politicians, including Ocasio-Cortezs congressional colleague Rep Richie Torres, renouncing their membership in the organization.
The DSAs Palestinian Solidarity Working Group released a "tool kit" with resources to coordinate pro-Hamas rallies across the country. These rallies often included calls for the genocide of those living in Israel, vandalism, graffiti, and anti-police rhetoric, but never calls for Hamas to surrender or the release of the hostages.
The withdrawal of the endorsement could have significant implications for the DSA. Ocasio-Cortez is a popular figure in far-left circles, and the organization is currently facing severe financial shortfalls. The DSA is reportedly in a seven-figure hole, and losing the support of a high-profile figure like Ocasio-Cortez could further exacerbate their financial struggles.
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