Tensions mounting between DSA and AOC?
The Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) held its biennial national convention in Chicago last weekend, but a contentious issue that lingers is the censure resolution against Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (AOC). The resolution, which was presented at the convention, accuses AOC of "tacit support for Zionism" and criticizes her for being too supportive of the Democratic establishment and insufficiently supportive of the Palestinian cause.
However, as of late August 2025, the resolution has not been debated or voted on, and AOC has not been formally censured by the DSA. The resolution remains active internally, reflecting ongoing tensions within the DSA over AOC's stance on Israel and Palestine.
The resolution criticizes AOC for actions such as signing a statement affirming Israel’s right to self-defense, endorsing Biden and Harris, and opposing only offensive weapons shipments rather than all U.S. funding for Israel’s missile defense—stances that differ from the DSA's more hardline anti-Zionist position. Despite this, the DSA leadership has issued informal critiques of her positions multiple times, described as “de facto censure,” but so far without an official, formal resolution passed.
The DSA, which has over 70,000 members, has taken increasingly strong anti-Zionist stances and has endorsed the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement against Israel. The DSA originally held a pro-Israel stance when it was founded in 1982, but it has since shifted to a strongly anti-Zionist stance.
A representative for AOC did not immediately respond to a request for comment. It is not clear whether the censure resolution will be reconsidered in the future, but as of now, it remains a pending issue within the DSA.
Meanwhile, AOC is no longer endorsed by the national DSA organization, but she remains endorsed by the New York City chapter. The DSA is currently mobilizing to tax the rich and is actively engaging in various political campaigns across the United States.
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- Ongoing debates and policies within the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) are focused on war-and-conflicts, particularly the Israel-Palestine conflict, as evidenced by the censure resolution against Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (AOC) over her support for Israel.
- The DSA, immersed in politics and general news, has taken a hardline anti-Zionist stance, supporting the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement against Israel, contrasting its current position with its pro-Israel stance when it was founded in 1982.
