Staff Reports
Pro-Palestinian demonstrators made a scene at a Michigan Democrat’s Christmas party, causing chaos and leaving an elderly woman hospitalized with two black eyes. The group of 20 to 30 protesters, including members of the Palestinian Youth Movement and Party for Socialism and Liberation, barged into a Detroit bar where the 13th Congressional District Democratic Party was hosting a festive gathering. The demonstrators were out to confront Rep. Shri Thanedar over his support for Israel, and things quickly took a turn for the worse.
Brawl involving pro-Palestinian activists at Detroit Dem holiday bash leaves partygoers bloodied, bruised and in ERhttps://t.co/l5PlJJOg2t
— Dumisani Washington (@DumisaniTemsgen) December 22, 2023
Party chair Jonathan Kinloch revealed that the protestors were asked to leave politely, but their refusal led to the event attendees taking matters into their own hands to protect the seniors and disabled guests. One partygoer, Valeria Berra, claimed that a protester initiated the violence by shoving her against a wall. The brawl even escalated to the point where 91-year-old former Detroit police commissioner Bernice Smith defended herself by using her cane against the protesters.
The chaos at the party resulted in Democratic activist Bobbie Johnson being taken to the hospital with two black eyes. In a livestreamed video, Johnson expressed her shock and disbelief at the protest, noting that she is a member of a diverse community and does a lot of work in the Muslim community. Despite her efforts to reiterate her lack of animosity towards Muslims, she was left reeling from the unexpected turn of events.
Following the incident at the Christmas party, pro-Palestine protesters showed up at Rep. Thanedar’s residence in the middle of the night to voice their grievances. This ongoing unrest highlights the deepening divide within the Democratic Party over issues related to Israel, with viewpoints conflicting and leading to widespread tension within the party.
The aggression displayed by the protesters has also had an impact on political dynamics in Michigan, where President Joe Biden’s approval rating among Arab-Americans has significantly declined. As Arab-American leaders in the state threaten to withdraw their support for Biden due to his administration’s backing of the Israeli war, the political climate in Michigan continues to be fraught with tension and uncertainty. These ongoing developments shed light on the complex and deeply entrenched divisions within the state’s political landscape.
