Raman Defends Calling Israel’s Actions 'Genocide' At Jewish Mayoral Forum

LOS ANGELES, CA — Mayoral candidate Nithya Raman Tuesday evening defended her appearance and comments she made criticizing Israel's actions in Gaza during an interview with Twitch streamer Hasan Piker last spring.

Raman, who represents Los Angeles' 4th City Council District, took the stage and sat across from Alex Cohen, a political anchor and host for Spectrum News, for a mayoral forum conducted at the Skirball Cultural Center, co-hosted by the Jewish Federation of Los Angeles.

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The councilwoman, who is challenging Mayor Karen Bass, was immediately asked to address remarks she made

Piker, a streamer with more than 11 million followers, had Raman discuss her mayoral run, but the conversation had also touched upon the Israel- Hamas war.

In response to Piker's question about whether she believed Israel had committed genocide, Raman had said "I do, yes." Raman had also said that she believes Israel has a "right to exist." The councilwoman had also talked about a resolution she co-authored in 2024 calling for a ceasefire, but the matter never came up for a council vote.

Raman defended her stance, agreeing with Piker in calling Israel's actions a genocide. The councilwoman explained that she stands with the Jewish community and understands the historical context and weight of the term.

"I do also want to say to this room that no matter what your feelings are about foreign policy issues, what your feelings are about what's happening in the Middle East, I'm running for mayor to be mayor of this city," Raman said.

"My goal is to make sure Angelenos are safe, and there is a great diversity of opinions about foreign policy issues in this room, and even more diverse across the entire city. "This city has to be a place where you can feel to express those views, where you can feel free to worship as you wish, where you can be visibly Jewish and not feel unsafe.

"The city must be one that is safe for every single resident in it."

The councilwoman noted as a progressive elected representative, who is more on the leftward side of that spectrum, she never wants progressive politics to be conflated with antisemitism.

Cohen questioned why Raman agreed to join Piker, noting that he had made past comments about Jews and has praise for "terrorist organizations, including Hamas, Hezbollah and Al Qaeda."

"You told ABC News, and I quote, that you 'Vehemently disagreed with some of his statement, and yet that disagreement did not appear during that interview. We'd like to ask what specifically drove your decision to appear on his program, and were you concerned in any way..." Cohen asked.

Raman maintained she has spoke up against antisemitism, against language that she found to be hateful, and rhetoric that has been deeply hurtful to the Jewish community when it happened to her district or citywide. The councilwoman emphasized said she would do that as mayor.

"I felt like responded to the questions that he (Piker) asked me with honesty about where my platform and my views were," Raman said. "He asked me certain questions that I said yes to, and there were others where I pushed back against, like questions about the existence of the state of Israel, and I stood my ground on those issues, but I do believe that as an elected representative who's seeking higher office, you have to go and speak to voters."

She reiterated that it's important for people running for office to go and address voters where they are at, and that includes making appearances on shows or other platforms where you disagree with the hosts.

Cohen asked Raman if she would make an appearance on shows where someone had a large audience, and who had been known to make hateful remarks about Muslims, or Christians, Indian Americans, or any other group, would she?

"I would hope so. I think I would evaluate each of these requests on a case-by-case basis. But my hope is that I would apply the same principles, no matter who the streamer or podcaster or platform was, I would be able to go and speak to different audiences and present myself honestly in full in those places," Raman said.

"And I hope I can do a better job of that in the future as well."

After Raman's 45-minute conversation with Cohen concluded, Bass answered questions.

Bass said genocide was not an appropriate term to describe Israel's actions. The incumbent added she would not support any policy to divest from Israeli-based companies or companies with ties with Israel.

"When I think of foreign affairs, especially conflicts, my focus is on how they impact the city of Los Angeles," Bass said. "My job is to keep things safe, and I think that there is a lot of divisiveness that happen..."

Bass noted she has always fought for vulnerable communities.

The two mayoral candidates shared similar concerns about the rise in violence against the Jewish community and spoke about plans to improve safety, which involved strengthening the Los Angeles Police Department and ways they dispatch sworn officers, among other things.

Bass touted previous actions she has taken to address those concerns such as the formation of a Jewish Community Safety Working Group, and working with the city's Interfaith Council, as well as increasing patrols and increased security over Jewish holidays.

The incumbent spoke about recent legislation, AB 2664 or the Safe Worship Zone Act, signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom.

"We will review it and we will come up with a plan together as to how it will be implemented, how we will track it, and how we will see if it's actually helpful," Bass added.

Both candidates also answered questions about housing and homelessness, and preparations for the Olympics, among other topics.

By Jose Herrera, City News Service