Jewish leaders and teams in California’s Bay Space have blasted socialist Richmond Mayor Eduardo Martinez’s apology for sharing heinous antisemitic conspiracies on-line — and have even fashioned a brand new political advocacy group over considerations about rising Jew-hate.
Martinez, a proud member of the ultra-left Democratic Socialists of America (DSA), is dealing with intense strain to resign after he amplified sickening posts on LinkedIn claiming the Bondi Seashore terror assault in Australia was a “false flag” operation and blaming Israel for rising antisemitism.
The embattled lefty pol deleted the posts and apologized, insisting, “We should always not conflate Zionism with Judaism.”
Nevertheless, critics are ripping the tepid regrets as a cop-out that failed to handle the hurt.
Sam Yebri, a former Los Angeles Metropolis Council candidate with robust ties to the LA Jewish group, mentioned that sharing hateful rhetoric is “past a mistake” with harmful real-world penalties.
“Martinez has persistently and repeatedly trafficked within the worst antisemitism conceivable, and now has put the lives of his Jewish constituents in jeopardy,” Yebri advised The Put up.
Rabbi Dean Kertesz, a just lately retired longtime rabbi of Temple Beth El in Richmond, who describes himself as each pro-Israel and pro-Palestinian, additionally labeled Martinez’s actions as blatant “hatred of Jews.”
“My first response is anger,” Kertesz mentioned.
“What we’re seeing will not be reputable criticism of Israeli coverage. It’s hatred of Jews. And that’s the place this highway leads.”
The Bay Space Jewish group is so involved about rising antisemitism that they’ve fashioned a brand new political advocacy group.
It was launched final summer season in response to what leaders described as a rising sense that conventional approaches had been now not sufficient.
The group was structured for political muscle — free to foyer, strain lawmakers and interact in hard-nosed advocacy — a pointy break from the cautious, charity-only method that has lengthy outlined many Jewish establishments.
“Throughout this unprecedented and unsure second for Bay Space Jews, it’s essential that our group feels secure, heard and understood,” Neal Rubin, president of BAJA, advised The Put up.
“BAJA is a vital new useful resource that can permit us to construct actual affect with lawmakers and advocate forcefully for our shared values.”
Jonathan Mintzer, the group’s director, warned that antisemitism is now not lurking within the shadows – however surfacing in mainstream politics and public workplace.
Mintzer insisted Mayor Martinez’s response uncovered a deeper breakdown — not simply poor judgment, however a failure of accountability.
Martinez, he mentioned, ought to confront “what an actual apology really means,” together with acknowledging why the posts had been dangerous, how they stoked concern, and the way rhetoric that demonizes Jews and Israelis can lay the groundwork for real-world violence.
Jeremy Russell, director of promoting and communications at Bay Space Jewish Neighborhood Relations Council (JCRC), mentioned that since Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023, assault, Richmond’s Metropolis Council — together with members aligned with the DSA — has more and more drawn the Israel-Hamas warfare into municipal governance.
This even culminated in a proper decision declaring town’s assist and solidarity with the Palestinian folks of Gaza.
Jewish leaders say the vote didn’t land in a vacuum. As an alternative, it amplified a rising sense of isolation and unease amongst Jewish residents, who watched a global battle take heart stage in native authorities chambers.
“That is one thing we felt we needed to do,” Russell mentioned of the newly fashioned advocacy group. “There’s an actual notion that that is getting worse.”
It is a specific concern Russell has with Martinez.
“This didn’t begin with one publish,” he mentioned. “We’ve engaged with the mayor and town council earlier than. We realized we had been getting nowhere.”
Kertesz mentioned Martinez’s position as mayor additionally magnifies the implications, giving his phrases and actions added weight — and making the fallout way more harmful.
“He’s the mayor,” Kertesz mentioned. “What he says publicly displays on town. He doesn’t get to separate his politics from his workplace.”
The JCRC has circulated an open letter calling on Martinez to resign, citing what it described as a sample of habits quite than an remoted mistake.
The letter additionally flagged Martinez’s look on the Individuals’s Convention for Palestine in Detroit final summer season, the place he was photographed carrying a hat bearing the acronym “DDTTIDF,” which the Anti-Defamation League mentioned is an acronym for “Demise, Demise to the Israeli Protection Forces.”
Martinez later mentioned he didn’t perceive the that means of the acronym and doesn’t condone violence — explanations Jewish leaders say solely sharpened considerations about judgment and consciousness.
The DSA, in the meantime, has taken overtly anti-Israel positions, together with calls to halt US navy support and assist boycott efforts — stances Jewish leaders say have helped normalize antisemitism beneath the banner of political speech.
“Martinez should resign and depart public life endlessly, and different DSA candidates and elected officers like him ought to cease inviting violence towards Jews in America,” mentioned Yebri.
The Put up reached out to Martinez’s workplace and the East Bay DSA for remark.
The DSA advised The Put up that it could go our request to its Steering Committee Chairs.
