RALEIGH — Democrats in both chambers of the North Carolina General Assembly are facing backlash for failing to support a resolution and statement supporting Israel after the country suffered unprovoked and brutal attacks by Hamas on Oct. 7.
Thousands of innocent Israelis, including infants, children of all ages, and the elderly have been injured or killed. The most recent report coming out of Israel indicates that at least 22 U.S. citizens were killed in the attacks.
On Oct. 10, the House passed a resolution urging Congress to support Israel “financially and otherwise for as long as it takes for Israel to bring justice in light of the unprovoked attacks on innocent Israeli civilians.”
The resolution passed unanimously 104-0, but with 12 Democrat members walking out on the vote including Reps. John Autry (Mecklenburg County), Amber Baker (Forsyth), Gloristine Brown (Pitt), Kanika Brown (Forsyth), Maria Cervania (Wake), Terence Everitt (Wake), Pricey Harrison (Guilford), Nasif Majeed (Mecklenburg), Marcia Morey (Durham), Renee Price (Orange), Diamond Staton-Williams (Cabarrus), and Julie von Haefen (Wake).
Rep. Erin Paré, the primary sponsor of the House resolution, slammed the Democrats who left the floor.
“It is unconscionable to me that Democrats have become so extreme that they walked out and refused to vote on a resolution condemning the slaughtering of children and raping of women,” said Paré. “Their shameful actions have sent a terrible message to not only the people of Israel, but all of America’s allies across the world.”
“When I spoke on the floor, I expressed my strong hope that we could come together as a body to support Israel and stand up against the evil and heinous actions of Hamas,” Paré said. “Sadly, these twelve Democrats chose to turn their back and walk out in shame. While they chose to side with terrorists who murdered innocent babies, the people of North Carolina will always stand with Israel and against terrorism.”
Two of the House Democrats who walked out on the resolution, von Haefen and Staton-Williams, have issued statements.
von Haefen posted her statement to X in which she seemingly blamed the veto overrides on Oct. 10 as the reason why she walked out on the resolution supporting Israel.
“I stand with President Biden & our NC Democratic congressional delegation in condemning the terrorist attacks by Hamas in Israel. Brutal violence has no place in our society and my heart and prayers are with everyone affected by this horrible war,” von Haefen wrote in a thread. “But, I will not stand with Speaker Moore in his efforts yesterday to distract from the damage that was occurring to democracy in North Carolina with the veto overrides of five destructive pieces of legislation.”
WSOC’s Joe Bruno reported that Staton-Williams later issued a statement saying she could not “endorse more violence,” regarding her walkout on NC’s resolution to support Israel.
“I represent a district with families who have loved ones on both sides of this conflict. I absolutely condemn the cruelty displayed by Hamas,” Staton-Williams said. “After leaning into my faith and remaining in prayer, a decision to endorse more violence was something I was not lead to do. I will continue to pray for peace as both countries work toward resolution.”
WBT Radio Host Pete Kaliner spoke with House Speaker Tim Moore (R-Kings Mountain), who said it “hit close to me” as the speaker had traveled to Israel a few years ago.
Moore said during his trip that he had visited one of the kibbutz locations where Hamas slaughtered families and children over the past weekend. He described some of the carnage that has occurred including babies being beheaded, children being burned alive, and people murdered.
“If we can’t take a stand for that… if we can’t take a stand to support those people to oppose terrorists like Hamas that are doing what they’re doing, then what can we do?” Moore told Kaliner.
“All of the folks who were on the House floor voted for it but about 12 Democratic members literally walked off the floor and did not vote for it. They just walked off the floor and I am shocked by that. I am surprised by that. I am disappointed by that,” said Moore. “Because while we may have our differences between Democrats and Republicans in North Carolina on different things, there ought to be those key points when everybody puts aside politics and can take a stand for what’s right.”
As an example, Moore then turned to von Haefen’s statement accusing the House resolution of being a “distraction away from other bills that were passed.”
Moore also called out the “mainstream media” who have chosen not to report on the Democrats who walked out on the resolution.
In the Senate, 46 signed a statement condemning Hamas for the attack on Israel, but four Democrats refused. The Senatorial Statement, in part, reads, “[I]t is our duty, and the duty of all civilized people, to condemn the cowardly act of targeting civilians, including children and the elderly…”
The Democrats who did not sign the statement included Sens. Julie Mayfield (D-Buncombe), Graig Meyer (D-Orange), Mujtaba Mohammed (D-Mecklenburg), and Natalie Murdock (D-Durham).
The Senate Democrats were called out for their “silence” in a statement issued by Senate Republicans.
“You would think that every member of the Senate would support a Senatorial Statement standing against the beheading of babies, the murder and rape of women, and the slaughtering of innocent teenagers attending a music festival, but that is not the case,” said Senate Judiciary Chairmen Sens. Danny Earl Britt, Jr. (R-Robeson), Warren Daniel (R-Burke), and Buck Newton (R-Wilson) in the statement.
“Why have these Democrats chosen to hide behind silence as the terrorist group Hamas commits crimes against humanity, including the execution of civilian hostages? How much more evil do they need to see before they denounce Hamas?” Britt, Daniel, and Newton said. “Full unity around this issue allows us to send the strongest message of support for our ally Israel and opposition to barbaric violence being committed by Hamas.”
Senate Republicans also called on the head of the North Carolina Democratic Party, the governor, and the attorney general to denounce the four Senate Democrats.
“Gov. Roy Cooper, Attorney General Josh Stein, and North Carolina Democratic Party Chair Anderson Clayton must swiftly denounce the silence of these Democrats, and make clear where the Democratic Party stands on this issue,” the chairmen said.
Gov. Roy Cooper personally issued a statement on the social media platform X on Oct. 8:
“I stand with Israel and strongly condemn the horrific attacks being perpetrated by Hamas and others. This violence is unthinkable and must be stopped. My heart is with the people of Israel and all North Carolinians with family and friends there. I have directed the Department of Public Safety to take action to support security at houses of worship as needed as we remain vigilant against any potential threats here in North Carolina. – RC”
In his official capacity as state attorney general, Stein joined a statement issued by a multi-state coalition of attorneys general on the attack on Israel. The statement reads, in part, “We are aghast and outraged at the wanton, calculated attacks on civilians going about their daily lives. The carnage, perpetrated by Hamas and its supporters, has directly led to the loss of hundreds of innocent lives and horrific kidnappings.”
Neither Cooper nor Stein has not made any comments about the refusals by the House and Senate Democrats.
N.C. Democratic Party Chair Anderson Clayton has also not issued any statement on the attack on Israel nor has she made any comment about the refusals of General Assembly Democrats with regard to the House resolution or the Senatorial statement.
As of Oct. 11, the N.C. Democratic Party has not issued any statement on any of its social media accounts or on its website regarding the attack on Israel.
