Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) is losing the national endorsement of the Democratic Socialists of America, a well-known liberal organization, due to the congresswoman’s failure to meet the requirements outlined in the organization’s first “conditional” endorsement.
“Earlier this week, the NPC received a request from NYC-DSA SC to withdraw the endorsement because it took place after the New York Democratic Primary, and they did not expect a conditional endorsement or feel it was strategic,” the organization stated. “Because we have not seen evidence of AOC meeting these conditions, and at the request of the NYC-DSA SC, the NPC is withdrawing our conditional endorsement of Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, although she will remain endorsed by our New York City chapter.”
Ocasio-Cortez would need to openly reject all funding to Israel, including the Iron Dome project, in order to win the DSA’s support. She also need to attend the DSA Federal Socialists in Office Committee on a regular basis, openly oppose any legislation that would make anti-Zionism illegal, such as those that would expand the definition of anti-Semitism to include criticism of Israel, and encourage boycotts, divestitures, and sanctions in public to put a stop to Israeli settler colonialism.
Several members of the DSA expressed concerns that “AOC demonstrate a higher level of commitment to Palestinian liberation, self-determination, and the immediate end to the heinous genocide in Gaza committed by Israel that aligns with DSA’s positions and expectations of socialists in office.” Members also mentioned “her votes, including a vote in favor of H.Res.888, conflating opposition to Israel’s ‘right to exist’ with antisemitism.”
AOC also co-signed a press release on April 20 this year, that “support[s] strengthening the Iron Dome and other defense systems.” Ocasio-Cortez’s involvement in a public panel including officials of the Jewish Council for Public Affairs was the DSA’s primary problem with her. The organization stated, “She conflated anti-Zionism with antisemitism and condemned boycotting Zionist institutions” during the panel.
“This sponsorship is a deep betrayal to all those who’ve risked their welfare to fight Israeli apartheid and genocide through political and direct action in recent months and in decades past,” it said.
