The Democratic Socialists of America, the group that backed political newcomer Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez in her primary challenge against longtime Democrat Congressman Joe Crowley in 2018, last week withdrew its endorsement, saying the 3-term congresswoman was not sufficiently supportive of Palestinians.
In a July 10 memo, the DSA acknowledged Ocasio-Cortez’s “courageous positions” on Palestinians but expressed its disappointment at some of the Squad member’s recent actions, including taking part in a panel with leaders of the Jewish Council for Public Affairs.
The DSA described the council as lobbyists for the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance and its definition of antisemitism.
The DSA’s National Political Committee voted in June to conditionally endorse Ocasio-Cortez provided she publicly opposed all US funding for Israel and the so-called “criminalization” of anti-Zionism. They also conditioned their endorsement on Ocasio-Cortez coming out in support of the efforts to end Israeli settlements.
In its memo, the DSA said it heard from thousands of party members about its possible endorsement of Ocasio-Cortez, with many of them backing the endorsement over her “many courageous” pro-Palestinian positions. However, the members also expressed disappointment that the New York congresswoman had failed to show a “higher level of commitment” to the cause.
The group argued that if it hoped to “build a socialist movement” that could defeat capitalism, it must “demand more from leaders in our movement.” It claimed that its endorsement must be contingent on a candidate’s “serious commitment” to the DSA’s “collective socialist project” and its support for Palestinians.
According to the memo, the New York City chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America asked the national group to withdraw its endorsement of Ocasio-Cortez. The group agreed, saying it had not seen any evidence that the congresswoman would meet the conditions it imposed when it endorsed her last month.
However, the group said that the New York City chapter’s endorsement of Ocasio-Cortez would remain in place.