California State Sen. Scott Wiener, a Jewish Democrat running for Congress, stated that protesters at San Francisco's Trans March escalated a confrontation over Gaza from free speech into intimidation and antisemitism.
Wiener, who was seeking to attend a trans-led Pride Shabbat service before the march, said he was surrounded by activists who screamed and cursed at him. He told CBS News’ Major Garrett on his podcast "The Takeout" that the protesters, who were accusing him of being insufficiently critical of Israel, also employed language he considered antisemitic, including referencing "Israeli handlers," which he described as a classic antisemitic trope about dual loyalty.
"This went beyond free speech," Wiener said, distinguishing the incident from typical protests or challenging conversations. He noted that some protesters made physical contact with him and that he felt fearful for his safety, prompting him to leave Dolores Park.
Video aired by CBS showed activists confronting Wiener, with one saying, "You’ve been wonderful for trans people, and you’ve been terrible. You’ve been terrible at Gaza." Wiener stated that the protesters were also misrepresenting his record on Gaza.
San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie condemned the confrontation, calling the language directed at Wiener "targeted, hateful and antisemitic." The California Senate Democratic Caucus and the California Legislative LGBTQ Caucus also issued statements condemning the verbal harassment.
Despite the confrontation, Wiener reiterated his position on the conflict. He defended Israel's right to exist but criticized Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government, calling its actions in Gaza an "abomination" and suggesting they amounted to genocide. Wiener also stated his opposition to U.S. military funding for Israel, arguing against funding the destruction of Palestinian communities.
Wiener, who is running for the congressional seat in California's 11th District, finished first in the June 2 top-two primary. He is set to face fellow Democrat Connie Chan in the November general election.