Raman defends calling Gaza war 'genocide' at Jewish mayoral forum in Los Angeles
At a Jewish community forum on Tuesday, Los Angeles mayoral candidate Nithya Raman defended using the word "genocide" for Gaza and called boycott, divestment and sanctions a legitimate form of protest. The crowd reacted audibly, and the runoff against Mayor Karen Bass is on Nov. 3.
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The story, neutrally told
Los Angeles City Councilwoman Nithya Raman defended her past description of Israel's actions in Gaza as "genocide" at the Jewish Los Angeles Mayoral Forum on Tuesday evening. New York PostR “The Los Angeles City Councilwoman defended her decision to call Israel’s actions in Gaza a “genocide”” Read at New York Post ↗ NewsweekN “The Jewish Los Angeles Mayoral Forum featured back-to-back conversations with Raman and Bass on Tuesday evening.” Read at Newsweek ↗ Raman and Mayor Karen Bass appeared separately with Spectrum News anchor Alex Cohen. The New York Post says the event was held at the Skirball Cultural Center before a crowd of about 1,000 and hosted by Jewish Federation Los Angeles and other groups. New York PostR “They appeared separately in conversations with Spectrum News anchor Alex Cohen”“roughly 1,000-person crowd at the Skirball Cultural Center” Read at New York Post ↗ Raman said she understood that "genocide" is a deeply painful word, and that she used it because experts had, and because she felt compelled to speak out about images of hospitals being targeted and children dying. New York PostR ““I used it because other experts have used it to describe what’s happening” Read at New York Post ↗ NewsweekN “I recognize that the word 'genocide' is a deeply painful word.” Read at Newsweek ↗
Newsweek adds that she said she is "not an expert on these issues" and that experts, including Israelis, have used the term. It also notes that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has denied that Israel is committing genocide. NewsweekN “"not an expert on these issues"”“Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has denied allegations that Israel is committing genocide there” Read at Newsweek ↗ Raman said she condemns the Oct. 7 attacks "without reservation". The Post quotes her saying antisemitism is rising "from every side of the political spectrum" and that she does not want progressive politics conflated with it. New York PostR “I condemn them without reservation and I will speak up.”“I never want progressive politics to be conflated with antisemitism.” Read at New York Post ↗ Newsweek reports that she also called boycott, divestment and sanctions (BDS) "a legitimate form of peaceful protest", drawing groans and some applause. It describes gasps after her genocide answer, with scattered applause. NewsweekN “I think Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions is a legitimate form of peaceful protest”“The crowd reacted again with gasps, although there was scattered applause.” Read at Newsweek ↗
The Post describes an "uneasy reaction from parts" of the audience. It cites LAPD data showing 46 anti-Jewish hate crimes from Jan. 1 through May 31, 2026. New York PostR “prompting an uneasy reaction from parts of the roughly 1,000-person crowd”“LAPD recorded 46 anti-Jewish hate crimes from Jan. 1 through May 31, 2026” Read at New York Post ↗ Bass won 34% to Raman's 29% in the June 2 primary. A Berkeley IGS/Los Angeles Times poll gave Raman an 11-point lead, 39% to 28%, with about a third undecided. New York PostR “She won 34% in the June 2 primary, compared with 29% for Raman” Read at New York Post ↗ NewsweekN “gave Raman an 11-point lead over Bass, with one-third of voters still undecided” Read at Newsweek ↗ Newsweek notes that other polls differ. A Raman-sponsored poll showed her ahead by 5 points, while a poll sponsored by a Raman-affiliated group showed Bass 1 point ahead. It says post-forum polling will show whether the remarks affect Raman's standing. NewsweekN “Impact Research: Sponsored by an organization affiliated with Raman”“New polls coming out that were conducted after the forum” Read at Newsweek ↗
Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on.
Left0 outlets
No left outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
Centre1 outlet
- Framing
- Newsweek treats the forum as a possible turning point in a close race, pairing Raman's quotes with poll data and Gaza war background.
- Emphasis
- Polling, the BDS comment, casualty figures and the AP-NORC poll on views of genocide.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Does not mention the LAPD hate-crime figures or the hosting organisations.
- For example
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“some of those undecided voters could have been swayed after Raman made comments that inspired audible reactions from the crowd on multiple occasions.” — Newsweek
Right2 outlets
- Framing
- The New York Post leads on the remark as an explosive issue that unsettled a Jewish audience, and adds local antisemitism data.
- Emphasis
- The crowd's discomfort, rising anti-Jewish hate crimes, and Raman's separation of progressive politics from antisemitism.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Does not report her BDS comments, her statement that she is 'not an expert', or the polls that show a closer race.
- Charged language
- “rattle”“explosive issues”
- For example
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“Nithya Raman walked straight into one of the most explosive issues of her mayoral campaign Tuesday night.” — New York Post
What every side reports
- Raman spoke at the Jewish Los Angeles Mayoral Forum on Tuesday, moderated by Spectrum News host Alex Cohen.
- She defended calling the Gaza war a 'genocide', citing experts and images of hospital strikes and child deaths.
- She said she condemns the Oct. 7 attacks without reservation.
- The Berkeley IGS/LA Times poll gave her a lead over Mayor Karen Bass, with a third of voters undecided.
- The runoff is on Nov. 3.
Where accounts differ
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How the audience reacted
- Centre
- Newsweek reports gasps after the genocide answer, groans and some applause on BDS, and scattered applause.
- Right
- The New York Post reports an 'uneasy reaction from parts' of the crowd and says the remarks 'rattle' it.
Nithya Raman person
Raman acknowledges the word is painful and says she used it on the basis of expert opinion and what she saw. She says she condemns the Oct. 7 attacks and opposes antisemitism, and she backs BDS as peaceful protest.
“I know that antisemitism is rising across the entire country and in this city,” — New York Post
“I support people's right to free protest.” — Newsweek
Left0 articles
No coverage yet.
Centre1 article
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What Polls Show as Nithya Raman Backs BDS, 'Genocide' Term at Jewish Event
Neutral Explainer-style report that puts Raman's remarks alongside polls and Gaza war context and asks whether they will affect the race.
Right2 articles
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Nithya Raman’s ‘genocide’ remarks rattle Jewish crowd at LA mayoral forum
Critical Frames the answer as a fraught moment before a Jewish audience, backed by hate-crime statistics.
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JNSR ·
- 30 Sep 04:28 First New York PostR Nithya Raman’s ‘genocide’ remarks rattle Jewish crowd at LA mayoral forum
- 30 Sep 20:06 +15h 38m NewsweekN What Polls Show as Nithya Raman Backs BDS, 'Genocide' Term at Jewish Event
- 30 Sep 22:32 +18h 4m JNSR Dem socialist trying to unseat LA mayor says at Jewish event that she was guest on antisemite’s show to reach its audience
Times are when each article was published, or when we first saw it if the outlet gave no time.