California State Senator Scott Weiner faced a fiery confrontation with protesters at the San Francisco trans march on Friday, as attendees heckled him over his stance on the conflict in Gaza. Demonstrators were heard shouting criticisms at the lawmaker, an openly gay and Jewish man, accusing him of supporting genocide and stating he did not belong at the event.
Video footage shared online showed attendees confronting Weiner as he walked through Dolores Park. One individual was heard telling Weiner, "I think your policy on genocide is terrible. I think you do not belong here." Another protestor yelled, "You stopped being queer the moment you started supporting Israel." The crowd also reportedly called Weiner a "piece of s***" and a "lowlife Zionist."
In a statement released online, Weiner condemned the confrontation, stating that he has attended the trans march annually for 22 years in solidarity with the transgender community. He explained that as he walked through the park to attend a Pride Shabbat service, a group began screaming at him, surrounded him, and harassed him verbally and physically. "They made statements about my ‘Israeli handlers,’ among many other inaccurate, extreme, and vile statements," Weiner said. He added that the group was so aggressive it was impossible to safely remain, leading him to leave and, for the first time, not participate in the march.
Weiner, who is currently in a House of Representatives race against San Francisco Supervisor Connie Chan to succeed Representative Nancy Pelosi, noted that disagreement and protest are core to democracy. However, he stated that when opposition transitions to harassment, including physical contact or attempts to bully him out of public events, it crosses a line.
The incident at the trans march follows a prior confrontation on Wednesday, where Weiner reported being accosted and verbally abused by an individual at a bar. He also stated that the same individual had previously stalked him on a plane and in an airport, shouting about his "tainted bloodline."
The pressure on Weiner at the pride event comes amid a complex public record on the Israel-Gaza conflict. In January, Weiner posted a video accusing Israel of genocide, stating, "To me, the Israeli government has tried to destroy Gaza and to push Palestinians out, and that qualifies as genocide." This statement drew backlash from groups such as the Jewish Community Relations Committee of the Bay Area and the American Jewish Committee. In February, Weiner stepped down as co-chair of the California Legislative Jewish Caucus, citing his campaign and the controversy surrounding his comments on Israel.
Separate incidents of unrest also occurred during the Friday event. The San Francisco Police Department reported that officers were injured and five people were detained during an incident involving vandalism with paint on Market Street. Three individuals were arrested for assault and vandalism, and two for obstruction. Police stated they are committed to protecting First Amendment rights while not tolerating criminal activity.
Mayor Daniel Lurie affirmed that safety was a priority for Pride events throughout the weekend, with city workers and law enforcement present to ensure smooth proceedings.