California Sen. Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco) left the Trans March in Dolores Park on Friday after an intense confrontation with protesters regarding the Israel-Gaza situation. This incident gained significant attention as it coincided with the start of Pride Weekend.
Footage captured the moment when a group surrounded Wiener, directing shouts and insults toward him. “We hate you!” was among the chants heard, reflecting the protesters’ dissatisfaction with his views on the conflict.
One protester, Dimitry Yakushkin, voiced his discontent loudly in the video, accusing Wiener of supporting a “genocidal policy” and suggesting he shouldn’t be present. “We did something terrible in Gaza! Scott, you shouldn’t be here anymore. It breaks my heart that the same guy who made good laws for gays is doing something so bad in Gaza!” Yakushkin continued, highlighting a sense of betrayal felt by some in the LGBT community regarding Wiener’s position on Israel.
Another individual in the crowd remarked on Wiener’s waning reputation among LGBT supporters due to his stance on Israel. “The moment you start supporting Israel, you stop being queer!” they said.
Wiener, who has attended every Trans March since its inception in 2004, explained that while he was on his way to a transgender-led Pride Shabbat service, he was suddenly set upon by the group, who engaged in both verbal and physical harassment. “They made statements about my ‘Israeli trainer,’ among many other inaccurate, extreme and vile statements,” he said, adding that he felt unsafe and forced to leave the park.
The confrontation has drawn criticism from various quarters, with California Senate leaders and LGBTQ lawmakers speaking out against the harassment Wiener faced. They emphasized that he deserves “dignity and respect,” pointing out his 16 years of public service as a staunch advocate for LGBTQ rights in California.
San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie also condemned the hostility targeted at Wiener, labeling some remarks as anti-Semitic. “As mayor, I will never accept hatred directed at members of our community,” Lurie stated, reinforcing a stance against intolerance.
Wiener has advanced in California’s top-two primary for the San Francisco-based 11th Congressional District, which was previously held by Nancy Pelosi, and will face fellow Democrat Connie Chung in the upcoming November election. Meanwhile, San Francisco police reported that five individuals were arrested in connection to separate incidents of property damage, obstruction, and assault during the event, with two officers sustaining non-life-threatening injuries.
