Rep. Shri Thanedar (D-Mich.) is revoking his membership in the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) over its promotion of what he said was an antisemitic rally in New York City.
“Today, I am officially renouncing my membership in the Democratic Socialists of America. 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,” he wrote in a statement Wednesday.
Thanedar, formerly one of the six members of the DSA in Congress, said that a rally in Times Square on Sunday pushed him to make the decision.
The rally, held just one day after Hamas launched its deadly attack on Israel, was also denounced by other lawmakers and officials.
“Sunday’s hate-filled and antisemitic rally in New York City, promoted by the NYC-DSA, makes it impossible for me to continue 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,” Thanedar added.
He was already expelled from his local DSA chapter.
Sounds like The Hill has failed at doing basic journalism.
Imagine what you’d have to do to get expelled from the DSA.
No need to imagine. It was for being Narendra Modi’s buddy.
To be clear, it appears that he was expelled for supporting Narendra Modi, not for anything to do with Israel or Palestine.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shri_Thanedar#U.S._House_of_Representatives
The narrative of “the far left is antisemitic” is getting pushed real hard for some reason.
They’re not necessarily antisemitic, though I think the far right sees an opportunity there and is actively infiltrating. Horseshoe theory.
But they are definitely anti-Israel (which is fine) and pro-“anyone who fights against Israel” (which is not at all fine).
Sometimes the enemy of my enemy is just another enemy, and the far left doesn’t understand that about the Israel-Palestine conflict. Israel and the IDF are both terrible.
Rallying against Israel - cool
Rallying against Jews - not cool (though I don’t think this is happening to any serious degree on the far left)
Rallying for Palestinians - cool
Rallying for Hamas - not cool
When a not-small chunk of far left activists are saying “I see no real problem with the indiscriminate murder, rape, and kidnapping of Jews, so long as it’s done in the name of decolonization”, is it that surprising?
I really don’t think it’s a particularly large ask to be able to denounce Israel’s actions against Palestinians, and be able to say that this does not justify murdering 200 civilians at a music festival.
“I see no real problem with the indiscriminate murder, rape, and kidnapping of Jews, so long as it’s done in the name of decolonization”
Who is saying that?
The idea that “An oppressed people have the right to resist by any means they deem necessary” has been quite popular amongst certain leftist schools of thought and has been shared by more than a few people I personally known.
I take it you’ve probably seen slogans to the effect of “Decolonization isn’t pretty”. The implication is pretty obvious.
I asked who is saying that. A few people you know is hardly a reliable source.
Before I go looking for sources, let me honestly ask, if I do find widely shared social media pages or statements from progressive groups espousing this idea, will that actually affect your views in any way? How will you views change if I do find evidence of this?
It doesn’t really matter at this stage. We’ve already established that you’ve been less than truthful.
Well, if you’re openly stating that no amount of evidence will change your mind, I’m glad I can save my time.
Just don’t go telling people you care at all about truth though, if that’s your mindset.
I’ve seen more articles about it than I’ve seen anyone with any cachet on the left ever say any shit like that. The articles are always either bullshit (like out-of-context quotes or conflating Hamas with Palestinian refugees) or quote some rando on Twitter or from a campus organization no one has ever heard of before now.
That fucking rally in NYC they’re associating with DSA had nothing to do with DSA. Apparently, the local chapter mentioned it on Twitter before the Hamas attacks? DSA didn’t organize it, participate in it, or endorse it. But for some reason, AOC has to denounce it?
Same here. While I’m sure there are some extremists who might think that, they’re a tiny minority and nobody of any importance has said anything remotely close.
Bibi has done more to support Hamas than anyone on the left ever could, but why aren’t you calling that war criminal out?
Bold of you to think I like him, when I’d say he’s probably one of the single individuals that’s done the most to contribute to the environment that caused this.
Still doesn’t excuse what happened last weekend. Nothing can. There is a difference between acknowledging how some of Israel’s actions have brewed a large amount of legitimate anger and resentment and thinking that that anger and resentment can ever justify indiscriminate murder of civilians.
And before you ask, yes, I think cutting off water, power, and aid is an excessive response.
Good, we agree Israelis and Palestinians deserve better.
But I am so over complaining about random no names w/ bad takes when they have no power.
That’s not what they’re saying. You’re massaging the message to fit your personal political narrative. Leftists aren’t celebrating dead Israelis. Leftists are calling for the complete decolonization of Palestine by the Israeli occupiers. This just happens to be a good time to have your message heard.
That’s not what they’re saying.
The centrists have their narrative. They won’t deviate from it. They’ve been aching for years to have common ground with the Republicans they all want to be.
Literally seen that exact sentiment a lot on Lemmy. “Anything Hamas does is completely excusable because they are fighting against colonizers. Including rape and murder of children.”
Someone is angling for AIPAC funds, it seems.
This is the best summary I could come up with:
Rep. Shri Thanedar (D-Mich.) is revoking his membership in the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) over its promotion of what he said was an antisemitic rally in New York City.
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,” he wrote in a statement Wednesday.
“Sunday’s hate-filled and antisemitic rally in New York City, promoted by the NYC-DSA, makes it impossible for me to continue my affiliation.
The NYC-DSA had reposted a statement on X, the platform previously known as Twitter, promoting rallies against funding for Israel on Saturday, the same day Hamas first infiltrated the nation.
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.), another member of the DSA, also denounced the rally held in New York City in a statement earlier this week.
It also did not speak for the thousands of New Yorkers who are capable of rejecting both Hamas’ horrifying attacks against innocent civilians as well as the grave injustices and violence Palestinians face under occupation,” she said.
The original article contains 471 words, the summary contains 183 words. Saved 61%. I’m a bot and I’m open source!
Yeah, I’m calling bullshit that he ever actually supported the group. It was a gambit to make Leftists seem foolish. Shri Thanedar is a moderate and therefore a conservative. Dude’s wikipedia page has details that sound fake af too
In 1990, Thanedar took a job working nights and weekends for $15/hour at Chemir/Polytech Laboratories to learn the business. He took out a loan to buy Chemir in 1991 for $75,000.
Somehow, a guy working $15/hr in 1990 had enough financial caché at the bank to get a 75k loan…to buy an entire pharmaceutical company? Also, since when does Wikipedia post such mundane details about someone’s life? They typically don’t. Seems like he had some PR men who don’t understand the internet edit his wikipedia page for him.
