Rep. Adam Smith, D-Wash., the ranking Democrat on the House Armed Services Committee, has been unable to hold a town hall meeting for more than a year due to threats and harassment from anti-Israel activists, he said in a recent interview. Smith described the situation as a significant challenge, stating that activists have disrupted his ability to engage with constituents, preventing him from holding public forums where constituents can speak directly with their representative.
In an interview with "Breaking Points," Smith detailed instances of what he characterized as illiberal behavior, including activists protesting outside his home and issuing death threats. He also noted that such disruptions have extended to public hearings and debates concerning U.S. policy toward Israel, where pro-Israel speakers have been unable to present their views without being shouted down by protesters.
"This is my biggest problem with the left," Smith stated, criticizing the actions of what he described as "a bunch of leftists" who he claims prevent others from speaking and engage in disruptive behavior. He recounted an incident at the University of Washington where a speaker arguing against divestment from Israel was interrupted within two sentences.
Smith, who has previously condemned the vandalism of his home by activists who spray-painted "baby killer" on his garage doors in 2023 over his stance on Israel, expressed frustration with what he sees as a lack of condemnation from the broader left. He suggested that a failure to denounce such actions alienates members of the Democratic Party's establishment wing and hinders productive dialogue.
The congressman also pointed to socialist New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani as an example of someone on the left who engages in more civil discourse, contrasting Mamdani's approach with the disruptive tactics employed by other activists. "He's having legitimate, thoughtful conversations instead of screaming matches over who can threaten the loudest," Smith remarked.
Smith is not the only Democratic member of the House to report facing harassment. Rep. Dan Goldman, D-N.Y., was reportedly told he was not welcome at a New York City coffee chain in June due to his support for Israel. Goldman, who is Jewish, subsequently lost his reelection bid to a challenger who made criticism of Israel a central theme of his campaign.