A "tax the Jews" chant erupted Wednesday during an anti-capitalist protest in San Francisco organized by the local Democratic Socialists of America chapter.
At an event hosted by San Francisco mayor Daniel Lurie, the protesters initially chanted "tax the rich." As the disruption continued, video footage captured at least one woman yelling "tax the Israel" followed by "tax the Jews."
A separate video showed the keffiyeh-clad woman yelling "shame on Jews" and "cancel Israel."
Wednesday’s disruption is just the latest instance of anti-Semitism intertwining with anti-capitalist efforts. At its biennial convention in August, between "Free Palestine" and "Death to the IDF" chants, DSA adopted a resolution that made "organizing in solidarity with the Palestinian cause a priority until Palestine is free." It also affirmed its commitment to a Palestine Liberation Organization creed that asserts the "right to resistance" and designates "Jerusalem as the capital" of a Palestinian state.
New York City mayor Zohran Mamdani (D.) is a member of the DSA who has refused to condemn the use of the phrase "globalize the intifada," a rallying cry for violence against Israel and its supporters.
DSA SF members at the protest were similarly disgusted and horrified by this woman's rhetoric, and want to make clear her words came from her alone. While we disagree on policy, we join the Mayor in condemning antisemitism.
— DSA San Francisco (@DSA_SF) February 25, 2026
Our statement on Instagram: https://t.co/yO8wCB9IaD https://t.co/QXy7ibq855 pic.twitter.com/7inKZBzxpx
"We want to be clear that whatever hate she holds isn’t shared by DSA members and we categorically reject antisemitism," the statement continued.
But Rudy Gonzalez, the secretary-treasurer of the San Francisco Building and Construction Trades Council, which represents multiple unions, said several DSA members participated in the chants.
86 likes, 61 comments - sfbuildingtrades on February 25, 2026: "UPDATE 2/25/26 9:30 PM We have been in touch with members of DSA San Francisco, who have reiterated their condemnation of the antisemitic remarks made by an individual who was not part of their protest nor a member of their organization. We appreciate that clarification. Expressions of hatred in all forms must not only be condemned, but confronted and rejected wherever they surface. Antisemitism has no place in our labor movement, no place in our city, and no place in any movement that claims to stand for justice. We remain committed to solidarity across communities and to ensuring that our jobsites and public spaces are rooted in dignity and respect for all.".
The DSA chapter also said its members and other protesters asked the woman to stop, but she refused. One person present, however, told the New York Post that the anti-Semitic chants lasted for about two minutes before "petering out" and that no one in the group stopped them.
Lurie’s event was intended to detail a proposed tax cut on large real estate purchases as part of an attempt to build housing units approved for construction but delayed due to "economic infeasibility," according to the San Francisco Chronicle.
At an event this afternoon, a group of individuals that were chanting "tax the rich" began to shout "tax the Jews." This was an event I put on with Supervisor Mahmood, labor leaders, and dozens of workers to announce a plan that creates more jobs for those workers and housing for…
— Daniel Lurie 丹尼爾·羅偉 (@DanielLurie) February 25, 2026
"Suggesting that Jews are wealthy is a tired trope, and targeting our community at an event focused on creating economic opportunity for San Franciscans is decidedly antisemitic," he wrote. "I will never accept hate directed at the Jewish community or any community in our city."
Lurie’s office, the San Francisco Building and Construction Trades Council, and the San Francisco DSA chapter did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
