Richmond. As in so many of these cases where we are seeing celebrations of the absolute barbarity of the Hamas attacks (and those have happened), it barely mentions them. And it completely denies Israel its right to self defense. Just imagine how we’d have received such a missive after we started our response to 9/11. Afghanistan not being Gaza, the collateral damage was more intermittent, but if AQ were hiding in Gaza, anyone is kidding themselves if they think we’d have been any different.

There are plenty of valid concerns about Israel’s role in the crisis, and particularly its current leader’s. And there’s no question that the vast majority in peril in Gaza aren’t hamas. The barbarity of Oct 7 is NEVER an acceptable way to address grievance. The barbarity itself was planned and designed to maximize Israeli fury, and therefore the number of Palestinian “martyrs”. Which the city of Richmond fails to even acknowledge in passing.

Richmond is free to say what it wants, but the rest of us are free to respond vigorously. Their response is a complete distortion of reality, and like too many corners of the left in this country, is painting Hamas as heroes. They should spend a little time living under their rule, and then get back to us.