June 7th 2024.
Several progressive political groups made a surprising announcement recently by withdrawing their endorsement of former Representative Mondaire Jones. This decision came after Jones publicly stated that he would not be supporting fellow Black Democrat Representative Jamaal Bowman, due to Bowman's criticism of Israel. According to NBC News, the Congressional Progressive Caucus PAC and Working Families Party of New York have removed their endorsements of Jones, along with any financial or organizational support. The groups believe that Jones has strayed from the values and principles that initially led them to support him in 2020.
Evan Brown, the executive director of the PAC, explained that there were several factors that contributed to the decision to revoke Jones' endorsement. He also emphasized that the move was a unanimous decision made by the PAC board. This turn of events is particularly noteworthy because Jones first gained attention in the political arena after being elected in 2020, following a surge of progressive activists in the wake of George Floyd's death. As one of the first openly gay Black members of Congress, Jones has been a vocal supporter of Medicare for All, the Green New Deal, and defunding the police. However, his current bid for a second term against Representative Mike Lawler has been met with some controversy.
The situation escalated when Jones publicly supported Bowman's opponent, George Latimer, which caught the attention of Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. The congresswoman retweeted a New York Times article and called for Democrats to unite, stating that Bowman has earned support from various factions within the party. She emphasized that unity within the party is crucial for success in the upcoming election. Progressive Caucus Chair Pramila Jayapal also criticized Jones' decision, describing it as "horrific" and accusing him of making a politically expedient choice.
Jayapal expressed her disgust and disappointment in Jones' actions, stating that Bowman is a top-priority candidate for the Progressive Caucus and that they fully support him. In contrast, Jones has shown no signs of regret for his decision, stating that he has known and worked with Latimer for many years. He also noted that he and Bowman have differing viewpoints, particularly when it comes to Israel. Jones believes that Bowman's recent acceptance of the DSA endorsement and his denial of the sexual assault of Israeli women by Hamas on October 7th are concerning. He also criticized Bowman for calling for a ceasefire before Israel had a chance to defend itself against what Jones describes as "the worst assault on Jews since the Holocaust."
Jones made it clear that he believes it is his duty to play a significant role in resolving the ongoing conflict between Israel and its enemies. However, his stance has been met with opposition from fellow Democrats, including Representatives Barbara Lee and Cori Bush. Both expressed their support for Bowman and condemned Jones' decision, with Bush going so far as to call it "disgusting." This turn of events has also caught the attention of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, with reports that they plan to target Representative Bowman in a new ad.
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