Thousands of pro-ceasefire protestors disrupted the California Democratic Party Convention, resulting in leaders locking down the building on November 18 in Sacramento.
On Saturday, the party posted on social media that the security guards locked entrances to the SAFE Credit Union Convention Center after the voting ended for party approval.
Pro-ceasefire Protestors Disrupt California Democratic Party Convention
The demonstration calling for a ceasefire in the Israeli-Hamas war disrupted a US Senate Candidates forum on Saturday.
Democratic Party Chair Rusty Hicks expressed his disappointment as protests have intimidated and harassed Jewish delegates and guests, which resulted in canceled meetings and events.
According to The Epoch Times, Hicks said in a letter to delegates on Sunday that as a California Democrat, he upholds the constitutionally-protected right to free speech and freedom of expression as sacred.
"But, exercising those rights with violence, intimidation, harassment, or bullying has no place in our Party or in our communities. Antisemitism and Islamophobia have no place in our Party or in our communities," he added.
Furthermore, he said that the chair condemned any form of violence that may bring harm to their people and divide the people from one another.
The demonstration led the party to cancel the convention center's caucus meetings, hospitality suites, and a VoteFest.
A spokesperson for the protest explained that they performed the demonstration as most democratic representatives did not respect constituents' very fierce desires.
Aylet Hasachar, one of the protest leaders, said that the commotion in Gaza now was genocide, and the democrats were involved in the promotion of genocide.
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US Senate Race
The party delegates could not promote any candidates for the US Senate race, as no candidate received 60% of the delegates. However, Rep. Barbara Lee placed first in the voting, garnering nearly 42% of the vote.
Lee was running in a tight race against Democrats Rep. Adam Schiff and Rep. Katie Porter and Republican Steve Garvey. Lee said that she was incredibly proud and honored to receive the support of many Democratic Party delegates.
On Saturday, Lee posted on X, formerly Twitter, "From day one, this campaign has been focused on delivering the progressive agenda that working people in California deserve: a Green New Deal, single-payer health care, and economic, racial, social, and environmental justice for all."
Lee would be the 78 who would take over in the office if she was elected.
The Inside California Politics survey on November 17 showed that Schiff was in the lead with 16% support of voters, Porter was in second with 13%, Garvey was at 10%, and Lee was at 9%.
The survey was conducted from November 11-14 and tested 1,000 registered voters by landline.
Schiff posted on X, formerly Twitter, that he was grateful for the support of hundreds of delegates from all over the state, and the volunteers and the staff made the weekend possible.
Garvey, a former Los Angeles Dodger, filed papers on November 15 to run for the California senate seat that was left open due to the death of longtime Sen. Dianne Feinstein, who died in office September 29.
