Pro-Israel Democrat California state senator heckled at Trans March over Gaza, ‘We f---ing hate you’
California state Sen. Scott Wiener, D-San Francisco, said he was forced to leave San Francisco's Trans March at Dolores Park on Friday after demonstrators confronted him over Israel and Gaza, in a viral episode that unfolded as Pride Weekend began.
The video showed several people surrounding Wiener as he walked through the park, with multiple hecklers shouting profinity-laced messages.
"We f---ing hate you!"
Dimitry Yakoushkin, who posted the clip to X, could be heard criticizing Wiener’s position on the war in Gaza as the Democratic lawmaker moved away from the crowd.
"I think your policy on the genocide is terrible!" Yakoushkin said in the video. "I think you do not belong here!"
As Wiener walked away, Yakoushkin continued to accuse him of betraying the LGBT community because of his stance on Israel and Gaza.
"You’ve been terrible on Gaza! You do not belong here anymore Scott and it breaks my f---ing heart!" Yakoushkin said. "It breaks my heart that someone who wrote good legislation for queers is so f---ing terrible on Gaza!"
Another person in the crowd accused Wiener of forfeiting his place in the LGBT community because of his support for Israel.
"You stopped being queer the moment you started supporting Israel!"
Wiener said he had attended the Trans March every year since the first march in 2004 and was walking through Dolores Park to attend a trans-led Pride Shabbat service when the confrontation unfolded.
"As I walked through Dolores Park to participate in a trans-led Pride Shabbat service in connection with the trans march, a group of people began screaming at me, ran up to me, surrounded me, and began harassing me, both verbally and physically, including physical contact," Wiener said.
Wiener said the group invoked Israel while confronting him.
"They made statements about my ‘Israeli handlers,’ among many other inaccurate, extreme, and vile statements," Wiener said. "They were so physically and verbally aggressive that it was impossible for me to safely remain in the park."
Fox News Digital reached out to Sen. Wiener for further comment, but did not immediately receive a response.
Wiener said the incident marked the first time in 22 years that he did not participate in the Trans March, which began in 2004 and has become one of the largest transgender gatherings in the world.
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Rep. Kevin Mullin, D-Calif., said the confrontation went beyond the Bay Area's tradition of political protest.
"Here in the Bay Area we have a long and proud history of heated protest and passionate disagreement; last night was not that," he said.
"There is simply no place for hate speech, harassment, and violence - in our politics or elsewhere. No matter your beliefs, no one should be threatened or intimidated for simply showing up for their community. Elected officials and candidates for office do not lose their right to basic human decency."
California Senate President Pro Tempore Monique Limón also joined Senate Democrats and the California Legislative LGBTQ Caucus in condemning the confrontation.
The joint statement said Wiener had spent 16 years in public service in San Francisco and had been "a fearless champion" for LGBTQ Californians.
San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie condemned the confrontation and described the language directed at Wiener as antisemitic.
"As mayor, I can never accept hate directed at a member of our community," Lurie said. "This language directed at Senator Wiener yesterday was targeted, hateful and antisemitic."
Wiener finished first in California’s top-two primary for the San Francisco-based 11th Congressional District, the seat held by former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. Wiener and San Francisco Supervisor Connie Chan advanced to the November general election, setting up an all-Democratic race to represent one of the party’s highest-profile House districts.
San Francisco police said five people were arrested in a separate confrontation involving alleged vandalism, obstruction and assault. Police said two officers suffered non-life-threatening injuries.