A group of pro-Palestine activists stormed the California Democratic Party convention this Saturday, forcing organizers to cancel events scheduled for the rest of the day.
Protesters barged into the Safe Credit Union Convention Center in Sacramento in the afternoon and chanted "From the river to the sea" and "Ceasefire now." Security guards had to escort the Democratic delegates away from the protestors, according to journalist Naomi Lim. "We have been informed by Capitol security that the Convention center has become compromised," California Young Democrats posted on social media, "Out of an abundance of caution, we are going to cancel tonight’s California Young Democrats general session. We will keep you posted on our endorsement process in the future."
Protesters, who were outside, made their way into the building and then opened the doors for other demonstrators. https://t.co/7tYNsYYUCQ pic.twitter.com/6AYYfK9WDo
— Naomi Lim (@naomitlim) November 19, 2023
Protesters have entered convention hall. @CA_Dem chair @rustyhicks counters “ceasefire now!” chants with “organize to win!” pic.twitter.com/HK0QbWlGMs
— Jeremy B. White (@JeremyBWhite) November 18, 2023
Pro-Palestinian protesters have taken over #CADeM convention floor.
After crowd couldn’t be controlled, Chair @rustyhicks concludes afternoon general session, cutting short Q&A w/ Lexi Reese. pic.twitter.com/e9M4ezcCoL
— Dustin Gardiner (@dustingardiner) November 18, 2023
Chants begin again as @AdamSchiff speaks — bringing party chair @rustyhicks to the stage. pic.twitter.com/A0Wmux2H04
— Guy Marzorati 💯 (@GuyMarzorati) November 18, 2023
Despite the interruption, Democrats were able to continue with the process of endorsing potential candidates who want to run for the Senate seat currently occupied by Laphonza Butler, who was appointed to replace Dianne Feinstein after her death.
Electoral threat
One of the slogans that protesters chanted was "In November we'll remember." This was in reference to next year's elections. This poses an increased threat, especially in the pro-Palestinian faction of the Democratic Party. Michigan Democratic Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib even accused President Biden of sponsoring "the genocide of the Palestinian People" and promised to withdraw support if he did not back down:
The American People won't forget. Biden, support a ceasefire now. Or don't count on us in 2024.
This conditional support could be felt during the convention, when, prior to the interruption, a group of activists came into the room where four Democratic Senate candidates were participating in a forum.
Politico reported that the final speeches of the candidates who did not support a ceasefire - Katie Porter, Adam Schiff and Lexi Reese - were interrupted by repeated shouting. Meanwhile, protesters allowed Rep. Barbara Lee to give her speech uninterrupted. "I’m calling for a cease-fire now!" Lee received a "roar" of approval, according to the San Francisco Chronicle.
"We’re the people electing the people sitting in those seats right now," a Sacramento State University student told Politico. "We’re going to make sure in November that they represent us and they hear us."
The president of the party, Rusty Hicks, condemned what happened, and said that every member of the convention should be heard. However, he has not commented on the negative effect that the interruption could have on the overall convention's goals: "Our focus of this convention is to ensure that we are going to win in 2024."
.@CA_Dem Chair @rustyhicks just spoke to journalists ahead of this weekend’s CA Democratic Party endorsing convention in Sacramento.
“Our focus of this convention is to ensure that we are going to win in 2024,” Hicks said. pic.twitter.com/P9WLlyADEE
— Eytan Wallace (@EytanWallace) November 17, 2023
