LA Mayoral Candidate Defends 'Genocide' Comment, BDS Support at Jewish Forum

Los Angeles mayoral candidate Nithya Raman defended her use of the term "genocide" to describe Israel's actions in Gaza and voiced support for the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement during a Jewish community forum on Tuesday night. The exchanges, held ahead of the Nov. 3 election, saw Raman pressed by attendees and moderators on her past comments and appearances on controversial platforms.

Raman, a frontrunner in the race, addressed concerns about her appearance on streamer Hasan Piker's program, stating that candidates must "meet people where they're at" and that such appearances do not signal an endorsement of the streamer's views. She also reaffirmed her use of the term "genocide," citing unnamed "experts" as her basis for the description. Later, she characterized the BDS movement as "a legitimate form of peaceful protest."

Incumbent Mayor Karen Bass also attended the forum, hosted by several Jewish organizations, where candidates were questioned on issues including public safety, homelessness, and antisemitism.

StopAntisemitism Executive Director Liora Rez criticized Raman's defense, telling Fox News Digital that "meeting people where they're at' is not a defense" for appearing on Piker's platform, given the streamer's past remarks. The forum's moderator noted that many in the audience found Raman's presence on Piker's show "deeply hurtful," referencing his past praise for groups like Hamas.

Raman countered that as an elected official seeking higher office, it is important to engage with voters across various platforms, even when disagreeing with aspects of their views. This rationale echoes a defense previously offered by Michigan Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed regarding his own appearances with Piker.

When questioned further about her use of the term "genocide," Raman acknowledged its painful nature and historical significance but reiterated that she relied on the assessments of "international experts, Israeli experts" who had used similar language to describe the situation in Gaza, particularly citing "the targeting of hospitals" and "the deaths of children."

However, Rez argued that casualty figures, often presented without distinguishing combatants from civilians, do not establish a deliberate campaign to destroy the Palestinian people. In contrast, Mayor Bass offered a different perspective at the forum, rejecting the use of the term "genocide" in relation to the war in Gaza.

Raman also addressed her stance on the BDS movement, differentiating her views from some positions within the Democratic Socialists of America, whose Los Angeles chapter has endorsed her campaign. She maintained that BDS is a legitimate form of peaceful protest while also noting disagreements with the DSA on other issues and asserting that Israel-related matters are not her primary municipal focus.

Rez pushed back on Raman's characterization of BDS, calling it "a discriminatory movement that singles out the world's only Jewish state for isolation and elimination."

Local activist April Silverman expressed criticism of Raman's performance, suggesting the candidate lacked an understanding of "knowing your audience and reading the room." Shana Meyerson, host of "The Unapologetically Jewish Podcast," stated that Raman "couldn’t even pretend in front of a room full of Jewish Angelenos to be anything other than an antizionist radical," and accused her of doubling down on "genocide" accusations without an expert understanding of the term.