Pro-Palestinian protesters target San Antonio mayor, council member

Two San Antonio politicians, including the mayor, were targeted last week by protesters calling for a cease-fire in the Israel-Hamas war in the Gaza Strip and an end to the city’s friendship agreement with Tel Aviv. Mayor Ron Nirenberg was at lunch when a group of people approached his table, according to a video posted by BreakThroughNews on X, the social media app formerly known as Twitter. The group called for Nirenberg to sever the city’s ties with Tel Aviv, a move Nirenberg has maintained he won't consider. Nirenberg has said that he has no plans to call for a cease-fire or to end the sister city program and agreements, which he described as a "platform for people-to-people diplomacy" that transcends "government and geopolitics." “You are disgusting,” one of the protesters yelled. “How dare you claim to represent the San Antonian people?” The activists' chants of “Free Palestine” filled the restaurant.

The Mayor’s Dream Ball was also targeted by a pro-Palestinian demonstration. Dozens of people showed up to the Boeing Center at Tech Port on Saturday evening to protest as guests arrived at the event. Nirenberg wasn’t the only local politician whose affairs were interrupted by demonstrations last week. San Antonio District 9 Council Member John Courage announced his mayoral bid at City Hall on Thursday while organizers shouted in support of a cease-fire and end of U.S. aid to Israel. “You are a hypocrite,” one of the attendees yelled during the news conference. “You have blood on your hands. How many kids have to die before you speak up?” Courage didn’t address the protesters until his staff members attempted to quiet them. “Allow them to say what they want,” said Courage, whose voice was drowned out by the continued chants. “They have freedom of speech. It’s only helping me get more media from our mayor’s race so thank you.” As he wrapped up his prepared remarks, Courage said: “I’d like to respond to the people here. All of you have a right to be here, all of you have a right to speak. I appreciate that. But you do not represent the entire city.”