LA Socialists Divided Over Mayoral Candidate's Stance on Israel Boycott

Los Angeles mayoral candidate Nithya Raman is facing internal dissent from the local chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) that endorsed her campaign, as activists accuse her of not taking a strong enough stance against Israel. The controversy emerged less than a month after the DSA's backing of Raman's bid for mayor.

Members of the DSA's Los Angeles chapter are reportedly divided over Raman's position on Israel and its policies towards Palestine, with concerns that her stance does not align with the organization's expectations amid ongoing violence in the Middle East. At the core of the dispute is Raman's refusal to officially endorse the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement, a global campaign aimed at pressuring Israel through economic and political means.

The BDS movement, initiated by Palestinians, seeks to protest Israel's treatment of Palestinians and its government policies. Raman has previously described BDS as a "legitimate form of peaceful protest" but has not explicitly endorsed the movement or all of its objectives.

The internal conflict was further complicated when national DSA leaders informed their Los Angeles counterparts that they had violated an internal rule, R22, which mandates asking candidates about their position on the boycott movement during the endorsement process. The LA chapter acknowledged that they failed to take this step, an oversight described by local co-chairs Leslie Chang and Sean Wakasa as an "honest mistake."

Despite the admission, Chang asserted that national leaders do not have the authority to revoke the endorsement, which was approved by local members through a democratic vote. She accused the national group of exceeding its authority and stated that the local chapter would continue to campaign for Raman and protect the integrity of their vote.

National DSA leaders are expected to convene to decide the future of their endorsement, which could involve suspending their support or requiring Raman to further clarify her position on BDS. The situation highlights ongoing tensions within progressive political groups regarding foreign policy and the specific actions advocated by movements like BDS.