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🇮🇱 Israel /Elections & Politics

DSA co-chair defends October 8 Times Square rally in ‘New Yorker’ interview

From Jerusalem Post · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

Interview Named sources Context piece
  • Democratic Socialists of America co-chair Megan Romer stated she likely would have attended a pro-Palestine rally in Times Square the day after the October 7 attacks.
  • Romer described the October 7 events as "largely inevitable," attributing them to the conditions of Palestinians living under siege.
  • The interview also touched on the DSA's stance against U.S. defense and economic support for Israel, which Romer called a "solid red line."

Democratic Socialists of America co-chair Megan Romer indicated she likely would have participated in a pro-Palestine rally in New York City's Times Square on October 8, 2023, just one day after the Hamas-led attacks. In a recent interview with The New Yorker editor David Remnick, Romer also stated that the events of October 7 were "largely inevitable."

I probably would have.

— Megan RomerRomer's response when asked if she would have attended the pro-Palestine rally in Times Square on October 8, 2023.

Remnick pressed Romer on her stance, asking if she would have rallied behind Hamas following the massacre of 1,200 people and the taking of over 200 hostages. Romer responded affirmatively, explaining her perspective: "I think that October 7 was largely inevitable. 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. And that is not defending any harm of civilians or of non-combatants."

I think that October 7 was largely inevitable. 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. And that is not defending any harm of civilians or of non-combatants.

— Megan RomerRomer's explanation for why she believed the October 7 attacks were inevitable.

When Remnick challenged her, suggesting her statement supported the attacks, Romer clarified, "I'm saying that I think it was inevitable. I think that you cannot put people in a cage and expect them not to revolt." The interview also covered other topics, including LGBTQ+ rights in the region, where Romer acknowledged Hamas is not queer-friendly but noted that social rights are limited under siege conditions. She also admitted to not knowing the specifics of the 2000 Camp David proposal.

I'm saying that I think it was inevitable. I think that you cannot put people in a cage and expect them not to revolt.

— Megan RomerRomer's clarification when pressed by David Remnick.

Expanding on the DSA's broader platform, Romer declared that any U.S. defense or economic support for Israel constitutes a "solid red line" for the organization. She further noted the DSA's support for "a free Palestine with the capital in Jerusalem," which she acknowledged could be interpreted as a one-state solution. The Anti-Defamation League criticized Romer's remarks as "hateful and demonizing rhetoric."

would not call Hamas queer-friendly

— Megan RomerRomer's assessment of Hamas regarding LGBTQ+ rights.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Jerusalem Post. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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