Agitators attack guests at Michigan state rep’s Christmas party to demand end to Israel-Hamas war

The unruly protesters crashed the party to confront Democrat Rep. Shri Thanedar about his support for Israel. The holiday event was hosted by the 13th Congressional District Democratic Party at the Common Pub in Detroit and occurred on Dec. 16.

Newsweek reports that the disruption was planned by the Palestinian Youth Movement and Party for Socialism and Liberation. Nearly 200 people were attending the function when roughly 20 to 30 protesters arrived on the scene. There was no security present.

Video footage of the violent disruption shows protesters chanting "ceasefire now" as they push, shove, and yell while gospel music blares in the background. Protesters used a bullhorn the moment Rep. Thanedar started speaking, according to The Midwesterner.

"Shri, do you believe in a free Palestine?" a female agitator shouted.

"Hey, Shri, you can't hide. We charge you with genocide," she chanted as others joined in. The situation then took a turn for the worse.

Wayne County Commissioner Jonathan C. Kinloch posted a clip of the incident and explained that a black Democratic community activist, Bobbie Avington-Johnson, was physically injured by the protesters. Avington-Johnson reportedly suffered two black eyes and was admitted to the hospital.

"Last night at the 13th Congressional District Democratic Party Annual Holiday Party, pro-Palestinian protesters caused chaos and mayhem, and they badly injured black community activist Ms. Bobbie Avington-Johnson, who remains in the hospital," said Commissioner Jonathan C. Kinloch.

A woman who was left bloodied during the incident went live on social media and called on "black men" to defend against "the Arabs" who disrupted the event, and to "stand the f-ck up!"

"Them Arabs in motherfu-kin' Detroit tried to kill me!" she said.

Elderly former Detroit Police Commissioner Bernice Smith, 91, was forced to defend herself from the group with a cane.

Sterling Jackson, Bernice's son, said he was forced to intervene in order to defend his mother to ensure her well-being. He was reportedly the first event attendee to jump in to defend the group from the violent far-left assaulters.

"I started it because I couldn't believe they are doing this and nobody was doing anything," Jackson said.

Jordan Hall, a spokesman with the Detroit Police Department, told Newsweek that the incident is still under investigation. Detroit police said no arrests have been made.

During a joint press conference on Monday, Thanedar, Kinloch and other local Democrat politicians slammed the protesters, referring to them as "rioters." "They didn't have a right to be there, first and foremost," Kinloch said, according to Newsweek. "It's not about whether or not they were being violent, whether or not they were being disruptive. They were not supposed to be there. The owner asked them to leave, I asked them to leave. They refused to leave so they were removed from a place where they had no business and no legal right to be in."

Kinloch further stated that security measures were not implemented due to the festive nature of the holiday party. They did not anticipate demonstrations or violence, which he said endangered the safety and security of senior attendees.

Rep. Thanedar explained that violence is never the way to make change, nor does it garner support.

"This is not going to give you support for your cause," said Thanedar. "I welcome them to come to my office. I welcome them to invite me to town halls where I could come and we can have a dialogue."

Violent demonstrations have raged across the world since Hamas terrorists invaded Israel at daybreak on Oct. 7 and slaughtered more than one thousand Israeli men, women, and children in the most heinous attack the nation has seen in decades.