I’m Jewish. I’m Israeli-American. I’m gay. I’m a progressive. In normal elections, I’ve always voted Democrat. But this November, I can’t say with confidence that I’ll support the party I’ve always believed in.
The Democratic Party amplifies the voices of elected officials who are doing everything in their power to alienate me and millions of people who share the same values, ethnicity, culture, religion and identity as me.
The Oct. 7 terror attack by Hamas and the subsequent spread of anti-Semitism across the country and the Western world served as a wake-up call, forcing lifelong liberals and progressives to come together, redouble their Jewish identity and embrace their community in order to survive.
For many in the Democratic Party, October 7th had the exact opposite effect: it became a rallying cry to sow hatred, division and stomp fear in the hearts of millions of Jews across the country.
The “protesters” take to the streets to intimidate Jews, close down Jewish businesses, disrupt Jewish participation in public events, desecrate statues and monuments, and amplify terrorist propaganda, all in the name of erasing the Jewish connection to Israel.
Students on a university campus banned their Jewish peers from using the libraryClasses are postponed, The graduation ceremony was canceled Due to protests by student groups.
Meanwhile, many Democrats supported these protests, some of whom carried antagonistic messages in the mainstream media. Camps visited Jewish groups say,I’m going back to Poland.“
I experienced anti-Semitism LGBTQ Spacethroughout Pride Month in Various citiesHere, Jews are targeted, mocked, heckled, and even physically attacked. The progressive movement, of which the LGBTQ movement is a part, is supposed to value diversity, equity, and inclusion. Apparently, that is not the case for Jews.
So here we are today, a few months away from Election Day, and Jewish people are facing a “here we go again” moment. Our safety, security, and survival are in our hands, and we are politically homeless.
We no longer recognize the political parties we once knew. Is this the year we support the same Republican candidates we voted against four years ago? If the current administration continues to “lead” as it does now, the latter may become a certain reality for many Jewish voters and a nightmare for Democrats.
Joe Biden and Kamala Harris had the opportunity to roundly condemn anti-Semitism, galvanize their party to support Israel, and take action to keep Jewish Americans safe in the days after October 7. Other Democratic leaders had the same opportunity.
Instead, they made the political calculation of abandoning this constituency, Israel, and decades of American foreign policy precedent in order to win the support of a radical minority within their base.
It is clear that the President’s campaign, and now the Harris campaign, have seriously underestimated the power of the Jewish Coalition and our allies and taken it for granted. We are an overwhelmingly left-leaning group of voters who are increasingly concerned about our safety and future in America, and this will directly affect how we vote.
Harris recently made some very frightening comments about violent protests on campuses. She explained“It shows exactly what human emotions should be like.”
Excuse me, but Jews on campus are afraid to even walk around, and are even forbidden from walking to class.From the river to the sea Palestine will be free“There is only one solution: the Intifada revolution.”
How exactly does this threat show what human emotions should be?
Starting at the top of the food chain, we are watching closely to see which politicians have spoken out and taken action to support us, just as we are watching closely to see which politicians support the calls to destroy us.
This administration, and by extension the Democratic Party, have done little to convey that they care even a little about my safety, let alone the safety of Jewish Americans across the country.
We know that Jewish votes will not be in the majority for the Republican Party this time, but look at their support for former president and Republican candidate Donald Trump. Among African-Americans, it has tripled in recent months.Similar trends can and will continue to be seen among Jewish voters: All it takes to decide the outcome of this election is a few thousand votes from historically Democratic Jewish voters in a battleground state like Michigan.
I am not an exception. There are millions of Jews and millions of Democrats who think like me. Our existence is at stake. I know that we will prevail: warriors for a society that will not tolerate the daily intimidation of others on the basis of their religion, ethnicity or culture.
Yuval David He is an actor, filmmaker, news commentator and activist.
