Michigan Democratic Rep. Shri Thanedar renounced his membership in the Democratic Socialists of America Wednesday following Sunday’s horrifying anti-semitic rally in Times Square.
“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, 68, said in a statement.
“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.”
The Times Square demonstration included protesters stomping on and burning an Israeli flag, while one person was seen flashing a swastika image on a cellphone as a taunt to counter-protesters supporting the Jewish state.
On Tuesday, the NYC chapter of DSA issued a tepid apology for promoting the event, but declined to directly condemn the Palestinian terror group.
“No amount of violence, deprivation, or collective punishment will make everyday Palestinians and Israelis safe,” the statement read, in part.
Thanedar’s sharp rebuke of the DSA was in start contrast to his fellow lawmaker Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.) who represented the India-born Thanedar’s 13th Congressional District for four years before shifting to represent the 12th District after congressional lines were redrawn.
On Wednesday, one day after the Palestinian-American Tlaib ignored a Fox Business reporter who repeatedly asked her to respond to reports of Hamas gruesomely murdering Israeli children — even beheading babies — issued a self-pitying statement.
“I do not support the targeting and killing of civilians, whether in Israel or Palestine,” she said, according to Politico. “The fact that some have suggested otherwise is offensive and rooted in bigoted assumptions about my faith and ethnicity.”
Tlaib has also drawn flack for keeping the Palestinian flag outside her Washington DC office and referring to Israel as an “apartheid” state.
Despite cutting ties with the DSA, Thanedar insisted he will continue to champion key progressive objectives.
“I will continue to work toward the goals that brought me to Congress in the first place: universal healthcare, workers’ rights, strong labor unions, equity for communities of color, environmental justice, and compassionate immigration,” he added.
“My ideals have not changed at all. 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.”
So far, the Hamas attack has killed at least 1,200 people in Israel, including 22 Americans. Another 17 are unaccounted for, according to the Biden administration.
Israel has responded to the atrocity by launching a days-long bombardment of the Gaza Strip in preparation for a ground invasion.