Los Angeles Mayoral Candidate Nithya Raman Faces DSA Ultimatum on BDS
Los Angeles City Councilwoman Nithya Raman faces an ultimatum from the Democratic Socialists of America to endorse the BDS movement, complicating her mayoral race against incumbent Karen Bass.
Days before the Los Angeles mayoral election, City Councilwoman Nithya Raman faces a pivotal moment as the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) demand a strict commitment to the BDS movement as a condition for continued support.
The national leadership of the DSA adopted two resolutions requiring Raman to clarify her stances on Israel and the Palestinians by Saturday. The conditions include explicit support for the BDS movement, severing ties with organizations defined by the DSA as Zionist lobbies, and opposing military aid to Israel, including arms shipments through Los Angeles International Airport.
The political crisis comes at a delicate time for Raman, who is locked in a tight race with incumbent Mayor Karen Bass. Recent polls by UC Berkeley and the Los Angeles Times show both candidates tied at 40%, with 19% of voters undecided. While Bass has faced severe criticism over her handling of the city's homelessness crisis and the recent wildfire emergency, her stance on Israel remains far more moderate than her challenger's.
Raman's relationship with the DSA has grown increasingly complex. Once a critic of the movement's rhetoric following the October 7 attacks, she recently told interviewers that she considers Israel's actions in Gaza to be genocide. Although she has attempted to balance her rhetoric by acknowledging Israel's right to exist, the escalating demands from the progressive wing have left Jewish voters in Los Angeles deeply concerned.
