The Washington, D.C. affiliate of the environmentalist advocacy group the Sunrise Movement reiterated its opposition to Zionism but also apologized for rebuking three Zionist, Jewish advocacy groups in a newly released statement.
Sunrise DC pulled out of a voting rights rally that took place in the capital on Saturday because three pro-Israel groups—the National Council of Jewish Women, Religious Action Center and the Jewish Council for Public Affairs—were also participating. The Jewish groups are part of the Declaration for American Democracy Coalition.
The national Sunrise Movement said afterward that singling out Jewish groups for removal from a coalition is “unacceptable and anti-Semitic.”
“We now understand the way our action has fueled anti-Semitism, which benefits white nationalism and political movements that built power by dividing us, and endangers Jewish people drastically,” the group added.
Sunrise DC also said it is “committed to learning and growing” as it continues to “stand against Zionism, anti-Semitism, anti-Palestinian racism and all other forms of oppression.”
The group further claimed that Zionism is an ideology that led to Israel’s “continued violent” against and “systematic oppression” of Palestinians.