House Democrat leadership issued a statement saying the violent pro-Palestinian riot outside of the Democratic National Committee (DNC) that left six capitol police officers injured and led to the shuttering of House offices for safety “exceeded a peaceful demonstration.”
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (R-NY), House Minority Whip Katherine Clark (D-MA), Democrat Caucus Chair Pete Aguilar (D-CA), and Democrat Congressional Campaign Committee Chair Suzan DelBene (D-WA) issued a joint statement on the riot, which was shared to X by Axios Congressional Reporter Anthony Solender.
New: Dem Leaders Jeffries, Clark, Aguilar and DelBene say DNC protesters “escalated their activity in a manner that exceeded a peaceful demonstration.”
“We strongly support the … right to freedom of expression and encourage anyone exercising that right to do so peacefully.” pic.twitter.com/usSTiHkX1y
— Andrew Solender (@AndrewSolender) November 16, 2023
The statement came following mounting criticism after hours of silence, and the Democrats chose their words carefully as tensions flare on the left between pro-Israeli Democrats and pro-Palestinian Democrats calling for a ceasefire:
Last night, Members of the House Democratic Caucus, hardworking staffers and dozens of guests from throughout the country were participating in an event inside the Democratic National Committee building when some protesters escalated their activity in a manner that exceeded a peaceful demonstration.
