California Democratic Party demonstrators dispute claim that protest was ‘anti-Israel’

Good morning and welcome to the A.M. Alert!

WAS THIS WEEKEND’S DEMONSTRATION ‘PEACEFUL PROTEST’ OR ‘ANTI-ISRAEL?’

Fallout continued Tuesday from the weekend protest at the California Democratic Party’s Sacramento convention. One of the groups that called for a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war issued a rebuttal to the California Legislative Jewish Caucus’ statement condemning the protest as “anti-Israel.”

As reported by The Bee, last weekend’s convention was interrupted by hundreds of protesters demanding “ceasefire now.” The disruption highlighted a growing rift in the Democratic Party, and prompted a scathing response from the Jewish Caucus.

In a weekend statement, the caucus labeled the demonstrators “anti-Israel protesters” and condemned their chants of “from the river to the sea” and “resistance is justified when people are occupied.” It said that the former is a call to wipe Israel off the map and the latter a defense of Hamas’ deadly Oct. 7 attack, which was “the largest mass murder, rape and kidnapping of Jews since the Holocaust.”

“A number of Jewish delegates — who were already very anxious attending the convention, given the spike in antisemitism since the October 7 massacre by Hamas — now believe it is unsafe to participate at all. We must never allow the Democratic Party to be unsafe for anyone,” the caucus said in a statement.

The caucus went on to say that while it supports the right “to protest loudly and vociferously,” it condemned protesters’ “storming through security” and shutting down convention activities as “completely unacceptable.”

On Tuesday, Jewish Voice for Peace Action, Sacramento accused the caucus of peddling a false narrative.

The group said that the protest was peaceful and that it was the Democratic Party that decided cancel scheduled meetings and receptions. Further, nobody was threatened because of their Jewish identity by the protesters — some of whom were themselves Jewish.

“There were, of course, no ‘chants calling for the destruction of Israel’ or ‘justify(ing) the Hamas attack.’ One person seen distributing an obscene, white supremacist and antisemitic flier at the rally was denounced by the Palestinian MC, then isolated and sent away by the crowd of 2,500,” according to the statement.

The group said that the phrase “from the river to the sea” expresses a “geographical reality” and that “resistance to occupation and oppression comes in many shapes and forms” including armed self-defense.

“We mourn all loss of life, and we reject all violent attacks on non-combatants, including those against Israelis — and the ongoing, much larger collective punishment (a serious war crime) to which Israel is subjecting the people of Gaza, who were not responsible for Oct. 7,” the group said.

RUSTY HICKS IS RUNNING

California Democratic Party Chair Rusty Hicks on Tuesday confirmed rumors that he intends to seek the Assembly seat being vacated by Assemblyman Jim Wood next year, formally announcing his bid for office.

According to Politico, Hicks — whose term as party chair isn’t up til 2025 — might not have to give up that position if he wins election to the Legislature. And Hicks himself did not mention stepping down in his campaign announcement on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter.

“In the State Assembly, I will bring my experience as an educator, organizer and veteran to help our North Coast neighbors and all Californians,” Hicks said in the statement.

With his statewide profile and connections, he emerges as a clear frontrunner for the seat.

ANOTHER CALIFORNIA CONGRESSIONAL DEM IS RETIRING

Via Gillian Brassil...

Longtime California Rep. Anna Eshoo, D-Palo Alto, announced Tuesday that she will retire from Congress after this term, adding to the generational turnover among Democrats in the state’s delegation.

“I’m choosing this beautiful season of Thanksgiving to announce that I will not seek re-election,” Eshoo said in a video, “and I do so with a heart filled with unending gratitude to you, my magnificent constituents.”

Eshoo, who turns 81 in December, has represented the South Bay for more than three decades in the House. Her safely-Democratic 16th District covers parts of San Mateo and Santa Clara counties. First elected in 1992, she was the first woman and Democrat to represent the Silicon Valley district.

A long-tenured member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, she worked on the Affordable Care Act as a member of its health subcommittee, where she is the top Democrat.

Her office notes several legislative accomplishments, including “the creation of the two federal advanced research centers for biosafety and medical cures, health insurance coverage for breast reconstructive surgery, and the electrification of Caltrain.”

Eshoo, who is Armenian-Assyrian, advocated for and successfully pushed Congress to formally recognize the Armenian genocide during World War I.

“This resolution not only honors and commemorates my ancestors and all those who perished in the first genocide of the 20th century,” Eshoo said when the resolution passed in 2019, “but serves as a timely reminder that we must remain vigilant to prevent similar atrocities today.”

From 1978 to 1982, Eshoo was the first woman to chair the San Mateo Democratic Party. She was elected to the county’s board of supervisors in 1982, serving for a decade. For about a year starting in 1981, Eshoo was chief of staff to Assembly speaker pro tempore Leo McCarthy.

Eshoo makes a half dozen California House Democrats not seeking re-election.

Her announcement comes a day after Rep. Tony Cárdenas, D-Paicoma, revealed he would not run. In July, California Rep. Grace Napolitano, D-Norwalk, announced she would retire when her term ends in Jan. 2025. Three California Democrats — Reps. Adam Schiff, Katie Porter and Barbara Lee — are leaving the House to compete for the late Sen. Dianne Feinstein’s seat.

Eshoo’s retirement means another longtime ally of former Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-San Francisco, is leaving office. At the beginning of this year, former Rep. Jackie Speier retired. Pelosi, 83, said she’d seek reelection in 2024.

QUOTE OF THE DAY

“He is running a shadow campaign. Even people in his own party are saying that a lot of Democrats want to move Biden out.”

- Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, referring to California Gov. Gavin Newsom, in an interview on Fox and Friends, via Mediaite.

Best of The Bee:

• Arnold Schwarzenegger is in full legacy mode, via Ari Plachta.

• Here’s some good news for holiday travelers. You can now travel with your pets on board Amtrak Capitol Corridor trains, according to a Nov. 16 news release, via Sarah Linn.

• Sparkz, a company planning to manufacture batteries for electric vehicles, is in discussion about opening a battery plant at the former corporate headquarters of rocket manufacturer Aerojet Rocketdyne in Rancho Cordova. Sparkz officials did not respond to email and phone requests for comment, via Randy Diamond.

• California Democrats have lots to deal with as they head into 2024 — an open U.S. Senate seat, deep divisions over the Israel-Hamas war, a debate over reparations for Black residents, via Lindsey Holden.