Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel voiced strong criticism on Monday concerning the Michigan Democratic Party's approach to combating antisemitism, specifically citing the party's decision to permit individuals facing charges related to antisemitic conduct to participate in its upcoming convention.
Nessel, who is the first Jewish individual to hold the state's top legal office, had previously informed Jewish community leaders that she would not attend the convention scheduled for August 29 due to security concerns. Speaking to MS NOW, Nessel indicated that while she has experienced antisemitism throughout her tenure, dating back to 2019, even before October 7, she now perceives a decline in the Democratic Party's openness to diverse viewpoints.
"Look, myself and other Jewish electeds are subjected to a barrage of antisemitic threats," Nessel stated. "And that's been happening literally since my first day in office in 2019, long before Oct. 7. But in addition to that, you know, what we've seen in the Democratic Party as of late in here in Michigan is that we're not seeing the same kind of civil discourse that we used to be able to have and the ability to have a diversity of ideas and opinions that are, you know, respected."
When questioned about the party's efforts to counter antisemitism, Nessel unequivocally responded, "absolutely not." She further elaborated that Democratic members facing criminal charges for antisemitic actions were still granted permission to attend the gathering.
Concerns Over Convention Attendees and Conduct
Nessel highlighted that "five members of the Democratic Party who have been charged with antisemitic acts of vandalism and harassment and threats to other Democratic officials, some of whom are Jewish and including an attack on the Jewish Federation of Detroit." She expressed her bewilderment, stating, "So those people are still permitted to come to the convention. And it's just baffling to me that while these charges are pending, they're going to be allowed to be there despite, you know, these credible charges against them."
She suggested proactive measures the party could take, including the enforcement of a robust code of conduct. "So I think that there's a lot that we could do. We could enforce a code of conduct that says that, again, you can’t chase people around the convention yelling at them. It’s not appropriate to boo people off the stage even if it’s a candidate whose ideas you don’t support."
In response, a spokesperson for the Michigan Democratic Party acknowledged receiving a complaint regarding its code of conduct but declined to comment on ongoing investigations. The spokesperson reiterated the party's dedication to providing secure and safe environments at all party events. "We are committed to ensuring party-hosted events are safe and secure environments for all attendees. We reject antisemitism, Islamophobia, and all forms of hateful conduct. We are working diligently with stakeholders, elected officials, and party membership to prepare for our August convention and look forward to welcoming Michigan Democrats to the Lansing Center on Aug. 29," the spokesperson said.
Addressing Abdul El-Sayed's Rhetoric
During the same interview, Nessel also addressed concerns surrounding Democratic Michigan Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed, whose campaign has faced scrutiny over past remarks perceived as antisemitic. While she did not offer an explicit endorsement for El-Sayed, Nessel indicated her desire to prevent GOP candidate Mike Rogers from securing the Senate seat and mentioned her intention to speak with El-Sayed soon about her concerns.
"First of all, I’d like him to tone down his rhetoric a little bit," Nessel advised. She clarified her meaning: "And what I mean by that is, AIPAC — which many of us do not support or agree with — and Israel, with many of us who do not support or agree with their government or the actions of Benjamin Netanyahu, they cannot be the central villain in literally every story."
She continued by offering an example, stating that in discussions about healthcare reform, a goal shared by many in the party, the root cause of issues lies with health insurance and pharmaceutical companies, not AIPAC. Nessel emphasized this point, adding, "Not everything is about AIPAC, not everything is about Israel."
