Romer also said DSA had established a “solid red line” against defense or economic support for Israel
By Shula Rosen
Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) co-chair Megan Romer said the Oct. 7 attack on Israel was “largely inevitable,” indicated she would likely have attended a pro-Hamas rally held the following day, and described the DSA’s position on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict as effectively supporting a “one-state solution,” implying the elimination of Israel.
Romer made the comments in an interview with The New Yorker editor David Remnick while discussing the DSA’s socialist ideology and positions on Israel, policing, immigration, and other issues.
Asked about congressional candidate Daria Liza Avila Chevalier’s attendance at an Oct. 8 anti-Israel, pro-Hamas rally in New York City, Romer said she supported Chevalier and “probably would have” attended the demonstration herself.
Remnick noted that the rally occurred one day after 1,200 people were killed and more than 200 taken hostage, and asked whether Romer would have rallied behind Hamas.
“I think that October 7th was largely inevitable,” Romer replied, arguing that Palestinians had been deprived of rights, dignity, food, and safety. She denied that she was defending harm to civilians or noncombatants, saying, “I think that you cannot put people in a cage and expect them not to revolt.”
Romer also said DSA had established a “solid red line” against defense or economic support for Israel.
Asked whether the organization favored two states or a binational state, she said its position was “a free Palestine with the capital in Jerusalem.”
“And so I think that could be safely read as a one-state solution,” she added.
Later, when Remnick questioned her apparent support for Hamas given the terrorist group’s treatment of LGBTQ people, Romer said, “I would not call Hamas queer-friendly,” before arguing that social rights were difficult under siege.
Beyond Israel, Romer advocated democratic control of essential industries and said the working class should ultimately control the means of production. She backed shifting police funding toward social programs while saying she did not support immediately eliminating police.
Romer also opposed sending US weapons to Ukraine, arguing that Washington should instead pursue greater diplomatic efforts to end Russia’s invasion.
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