Democrats’ state leader misquotes U of I Democrats

On Nov. 1, 2023, the Iowa Democratic Party released a statement that claimed a University Democrats at Iowa statement “included problematic antisemitic slogans including ‘from the river to the sea Palestine will be free.’”

The Iowa Democratic Party’s statement misquotes and misconstrues the original statement. The original University Democrats at Iowa statement was “May every Palestinian live long and free, from the river to the sea.”

The Arab American Caucus of the Iowa Democratic Party stands with University Democrats at Iowa in support of the freedom of every Palestinian: in Gaza, the West Bank, east Jerusalem, and inside Israel itself, as well as the right of return for Palestinians in line with the U.N. Resolution 242 and 338, as approved by the United States Government.

While the Iowa Democratic Party makes the false claim that the original University Democrats at Iowa statement “is a call for Jewish Genocide,” in fact, genocide is occurring right now as Israel bombs Gaza indiscriminately, killing over 8,800 people, including more than 3,600 children.

We call on Rita Hart to correct the quote, and we stand with the IDP’s Progressive Caucus in calling for Rita Hart to apologize to University Democrats at Iowa.

Newman Abuissa, Chair, Iowa Democratic Party Arab American Caucus

Iowa City