The Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) are facing backlash after co-chair Megan Romer commented on the October 7 massacre led by Hamas in Israel. Romer described the event as ‘largely inevitable,’ sparking criticism.
During an interview with David Remnick from The New Yorker, Romer was asked about Darializa Avila Chevalier, a democratic socialist who attended a pro-Hamas rally immediately following the attack on October 7, 2023. When asked if she would have joined that protest, Romer indicated she likely would have, had she been in New York City at the time.
Romer explained her stance by stating, ‘If you put people in an open-air concentration camp and you deprive them of rights, of dignity, of food, of the ability to live in safety, you have to expect that they are going to not take that for that long.’ She emphasized this was not a defense of harm to civilians or non-combatants.
Her remarks have drawn significant opposition from pro-Israel groups. Zionist Organization of America National President Morton A. Klein attributed the attacks to other causes. He pointed to Hamas’s election by Gazans and support from countries like Qatar and Iran as factors. Klein stressed these attacks were inevitable for those reasons, rather than Romer’s cited context.
The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) also condemned Romer’s comments. A public response shared on social media labeled her words as harmful and dangerous, escalating risks for Jewish individuals.
Romer additionally called the Hamas-led attacks a ‘revolt’ and stated they were ‘largely inevitable.’ Pro-Israel groups were quick to refute this perspective, highlighting the suffering of victims during the events of October 7.
Rabbi Yaakov Menken, Executive Vice President for Coalition for Jewish Values, criticized Romer’s comments as antisemitic. He argued her description inverted reality, justifying violence and atrocities.
The discussion continues to evoke significant attention, underscoring tensions around interpretations of the attack and reactions to it.