Los Angeles mayoral candidate Nithya Raman faced intense scrutiny from a Jewish community forum Tuesday night, defending her appearance on controversial streamer Hasan Piker’s platform and standing by her use of the term “genocide” to describe Israel’s actions in Gaza. Raman argued that candidates must “meet people where they’re at” and engage voters across various platforms, even those with whom they disagree, a rationale previously used by Michigan Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed. When pressed on her use of the word “genocide,” Raman stated she relied on unnamed “experts,” including international and Israeli ones, who had also used the terminology, feeling compelled to speak out after witnessing “the targeting of hospitals” and “the deaths of children.” However, this defense was met with strong criticism from Jewish leaders and community members who found her remarks deeply hurtful and inflammatory, with StopAntisemitism founder Liora Rez calling her defense of appearing on Piker’s show inadequate and rejecting Raman’s characterization of the Boycott, Divisment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement as a legitimate form of peaceful protest, deeming it instead a discriminatory movement aimed at isolating the Jewish state. In contrast, current Mayor Karen Bass offered a different perspective, rejecting the use of the term “genocide” in relation to the Gaza conflict.
Adapted from: Latest Political News on Fox News
