A press conference in San Francisco, showcasing Mayor Daniel Lurie’s tax reform proposal, took a troubling turn as anti-Semitic chants erupted, lasting over a minute, according to frustrated attendees of the Wednesday event.
Demonstrators affiliated with the local Democratic Socialist Party of America started chanting “tax the rich” outside the event, which took place near a construction site that supported Lurie’s policies, along with those of director Bilal Mahmood. Their proposed legislation aimed to reform the city’s real estate tax to foster housing construction and investment.
However, the situation escalated, with some individuals reportedly shouting “Tax the Jews,” which was followed by chants about Israel, as recounted by witnesses.
“The stereotype suggesting that Jews are affluent is an old cliché, and targeting our community during an event focused on creating jobs is undeniably anti-Semitic,” Lurie, who is Jewish, expressed in a posted statement.
“I cannot accept any form of hatred directed at the Jewish community or any community within our city. Those attitudes do not reflect San Francisco values. We should rise above that,” he continued.
An onlooker shared their shock, noting that the anti-Semitic remarks persisted for about two minutes before they finally ceased, although no one intervened to stop the hostility.
“It was a moment of disbelief. I was wondering if others were hearing the same thing,” the individual reflected.
Rudy Gonzalez, president of the San Francisco Building and Construction Trades Council, openly criticized the Democratic Socialists of America in an Instagram post that condemned the incident. “During today’s press conference, self-identified Democratic Socialists of America disrupted the event with anti-Semitic chants,” he stated.
“As a father in an interfaith family, I found today’s outburst profoundly disturbing. Any form of hatred against any community is unacceptable, and it jeopardizes the unity essential for working people,” he added.
The San Francisco branch of the DSA denied that the woman heard shouting “Tax Jews” was part of their group, claiming that members had urged her to stop. “Members participating in the protest are equally horrified by her comments and want to clarify that her words were her own. While we may have different policy views, we unanimously condemn anti-Semitism,” they stated.
This incident overshadowed an important announcement by a coalition including City Hall and labor officials, who were advocating for lower transfer tax rates on housing projects and downtown sales to aid San Francisco’s economic recovery.
Lurie, Mahmoud, and various supportive organizations argue that the proposed tax plan would not only create jobs but also reduce construction costs by around $32,850 per home.
