One of the most encouraging developments on the left in the last several months has been the emergence of an energetic pro-Palestinian movement calling for an end to the collective punishment of people in Gaza. But Rep. Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., sees something nefarious: a campaign aligned with Russia — and possibly even financed by it.
During an interview on CNN’s “State of the Union,” Pelosi said protesters’ push for a cease-fire in the Israel-Hamas conflict helps Russian President Vladimir Putin. “What we have to do is try to stop the suffering in Gaza … but for them to call for a cease-fire is Mr. Putin’s message,” she said. “Make no mistake, this is directly connected to what he would like to see.”
Stopping the suffering is exactly what advocates for a permanent cease-fire want.
“I think some of these protesters are spontaneous and organic and sincere,” Pelosi said. “Some, I think, are connected to Russia, and I say that having looked at this for a long time now.” She also said she thought “some financing should be investigated” by the FBI.
This is shameful rhetoric.
It is true that we cannot rule out that Russia or any other foreign adversary is covertly seeking to amplify dissent — or simply generate chaos on both sides — online or through organizations that shape off-line behavior. However, there is no indication nor has any evidence been presented that protesters calling for a cease-fire are astroturfed or financed by a foreign entity, and there is an abundance of obvious reasons to believe that they’re homegrown. Pelosi’s call for an FBI investigation — which hints at the possibility of repression, given the FBI’s long and dark history of quashing left-wing dissent — is an inappropriate and out-of-touch response.
Pelosi frames the idea of a cease-fire as Putin-aligned because she sees calls for a cease-fire that permits Hamas’ continued existence as a strategic win for U.S. adversaries like Russia and…
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