Brawl involving Pro-Palestinian activists at Detroit Dem holiday bash leaves partygoers bloodied, bruised and in ER
NY Post
Pro-Palestinian demonstrators stormed the Michigan Democrat’s Christmas Party to confront a lawmaker over his support for Israel — sparking a melee that left an elderly female partygoer hospitalized with two black eyes.
Around 20 to 30 demonstrators swarmed a Detroit bar Saturday night to interrupt the holiday party being thrown for around 200 people by the 13th Congressional District Democratic Party, according to Bridge Michigan.
The protesters from the Palestinian Youth Movement and Party for Socialism and Liberation were there to confront Rep. Shri Thanedar, who had renounced his membership in the Democratic Socialists of America over its support of a “hate-filled and antisemitic” Times Square rally.
Party chair Jonathan Kinloch said that “polite” requests for them to leave fell on deaf ears, which “angered the event attendees, who then forced the protestors” out to protect seniors and disabled attendees.
Partygoer Valeria Berra said a protestor “initiated” violence by shoving her against the wall.
The brawl even featured 91-year-old former Detroit police commissioner Bernice Smith hitting protestors with a cane, according to footage posted on Instagram, an act she justified as self-defense.
