Tonight, Nevada Democrats are hosting a virtual fundraising event with Ilhan Omar. In order to participate, a donation to the Silver State Progress Fund is required.

This event comes on the heels of of the party treasurer, Howard Beckerman, resigning due to anti-semitic comments made by the party chair, Judith Whitmer and prior to a “Holiday Solidarity Event” hosted by Tick Segerblom featuring anti-semitic and socialist partners. When The Globe asked Segerblom if he was aware of the provocative positions and statements made by his partners, he replied with a simple “yes.”

Ilhan Omar is no stranger to anti-semitic tropes, tweeting in 2019 “it’s all about the Benjamins, baby,” to suggest support of Israel is driven only my money from AIPAC (American Israeli Public Affairs Committee).  She was later forced by Nancy Pelosi to publicly apologize for her tweets. However, as reported by Politico: “In November 2012, in the midst of an Israeli military campaign against Hamas in the Gaza Strip, Omar said on Twitter ‘Israel has hypnotized the world, may Allah awaken the people and help them see the evil doings of Israel.’ Ilhan has also signaled support for the Palestinian-led BDS movement (Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions) against the Israeli government over its treatment of Palestinians.”

Her support of BDS came after she was elected, causing many Jewish Democrats in Minnesota to accuse her of a bait and switch. The BDS movement refers to Israel as an “apartheid state” and rejects a two-state solution for peace.  Instead, the BDS movement advocates for a one-state solution under Palestinian control.

As reported by The Globe, the Democratic Socialists of America took over all leadership positions of the Nevada Democratic Party causing a fracturing of the party between Harry Reid Democrats and Bernie Sanders Socialists.  The Democratic Victory Party was formed from this fracture and “is fighting for Democratic wins up and down the ballot.”  The Nevada Democratic Party is “fighting for progress in the Silver State”.

However, partnering with anti-semitic organizations, making anti-semitic comments, and hosting Ilhan for a fundraiser are causing many to question the Nevada Democratic Party’s ability to fight for progress by winning elections. Illustrating this concern, Jon Ralston of The Nevada Independent took to Twitter:

John Burke, communications director for Adam Laxalt, provided this comment: “Ilhan Omar is a known anti-Semite who has used her position in Congress to perpetuate vile tropes and rhetoric against the Jewish people and others. The Nevada Democrat Party’s eagerness to give her a platform to spread her hate in the Silver State is shameful. Not surprisingly, we haven’t heard a word of condemnation from our absentee Senator, Catherine Cortez Masto. Standing up to anti-Semitism within her own party clearly is not a priority of hers.”

(The Globe has reached out to Cortez Masto and will update the article with her comment if received.)