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.

  • BraveSirZaphod
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    01 year ago

    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.

    • @IchNichtenLichten@lemmy.world
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      01 year ago

      “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?

      • @4am@lemm.ee
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        01 year ago

        Tons of people equate (falsely) the statement “this was an inevitability given the way Palestinians are treated” with “Hamas should wipe out the Jews”.

        And the talking heads right up through the State Department love that.

        • @IchNichtenLichten@lemmy.world
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          01 year ago

          I’m sure some of this is because it’s an emotive topic and people are fired up right now. Other people seem to be arguing in bad faith in an attempt to silence dissenting opinions.

      • BraveSirZaphod
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        01 year ago

        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.

          • BraveSirZaphod
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            01 year ago

            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?

              • BraveSirZaphod
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                01 year ago

                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.

                • @IchNichtenLichten@lemmy.world
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                  01 year ago

                  No, I’m saying that you’ve posted fiction and now you want to scrabble around for anything you can find to try and validate yourself. I’m saying I don’t care what you do because you’ve given me no reason to. Clear?