Yolo and Solano groups to protest Congressman Thompson's Napa Summer Dinner over Israel-Gaza conflict

By Gerardo Zavala on August 1, 2024

Constituents and several organizations from Yolo and Solano counties are planning a protest demanding that Congressman Mike Thompson, D-Yolo, be indicted for "participation in the genocide in Gaza" Sunday during Thompson's annual Napa Summer Dinner.

The 4 p.m. protest in front of Inglenook, a winery located at 1991 St. Helena Hwy in Rutherford, will allow the groups to "unveil" their campaign to "launch a class action lawsuit against [Thompson]" for what they call "his illegal use of our tax dollars to fund such a genocide."

In a press release, the group argued that Thompson has supported and voted for bills in favor of sending more military aid and weapons to the Israeli government "despite overwhelming evidence of genocide."

"For example, on April 20, 2024, he voted to send an additional $4.4 billion of our tax dollars to the Israeli military, allowing it to procure even more ammunition and weapons," the release emphasized.

The organizations involved in the protest include Sonoma County for Palestine, Love and Light, Sonoma State University Students for Justice in Palestine, Sonoma Valley for Ceasefire, the Palestinian Youth Movement, Centro del Poder Popular, Party for Socialism and Liberation, Yolo for Palestinian Justice and more.

In response to news of the protest, Thompson argued that he is "a strong supporter of people's right to peacefully protest."

"I have always advocated and continue to advocate for a negotiated bilateral ceasefire, the immediate release of all hostages, and the establishment of a two-state solution to ensure peace and self-determination for the Palestinian and Israeli people," Thompson stated.

Yolo County's past reactions to Thompson's stance on the Israel-Gaza conflict

In November 2023, several Yolo County residents from Davis and West Sacramento met with Thompson in his Napa office to discuss the Israel-Gaza conflict. Participants said they left the 30-minute meeting confused and concerned with his stance.

In a press release following the meeting, the group argued that "although Thompson claimed to agree with the need to follow international law… he did not specify support for a ceasefire or other concrete actions to prevent what the UN calls a humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza."

Thompson did not allow journalists to attend the meeting, but the release noted that group members shared accounts of personal losses of family members, grief at the rising death toll and concerns for the "constant breaches of human rights and international law by Israeli forces."

"Reem Awad-Rashmawi, a Davis immigration attorney, emphasized that Thompson's own constituents have lost friends and family in the bombing campaign and that the daily civilian death toll and regular sight of extreme violence should move the congressman to act," the release emphasized.

The meeting was held after the Davis Peace Network organized afternoon vigils outside of Thompson's 622 Main St. office in Woodland honoring the lives of children lost in the war. The vigils were meant to address what at the time was over 10,000 Palestinians killed, nearly half of whom were children.

That number has now ballooned to 39,000, most of whom are civilians.

Furthermore, the UC Davis Popular University for the Liberation of Palestine (PULP) set up camp on the campus quad in early May with roughly 200 or more campers on any given night and hundreds in support of their movement.

A UC Davis pro-Palestinian encampment continues Thursday, May 9, 2024, in the university's quad. Approximately 200 students and some community members spent their time creating art and listening to programs aimed at informing them about the Israel-Palestine conflict. (Gerardo Zavala/ Daily Democrat)

A fourth-year Palestinian student who preferred to remain anonymous explained then that she was part of the encampment because she wanted to advocate for the rights of her family, her people and her bloodline to return back to Palestine.

She argued that the Davis City Council's ceasefire resolution did the "bare minimum" it should have done and chastised Thompson for continuing to support Israel through the conflict.

"To the representative Mike Thompson, there is no world where you can denounce the killings while simultaneously supporting the state of Israel," she argued. "Those two things cannot coexist."

A fourth-year Palestinian student who has been attending UC Davis since 2020 Thursday, May 9, 2024, outside of the encampment. The 21-year-old said she has lost over 40 extended family members since Oct. 2023. "I would be here every single day if I had to advocate for my family, my people, my bloodline and for our right to return back to Palestine and to tell my institution that I attend that I'm disgusted by them and the investments they have that directly target and bomb my family," she emphasized. (Gerardo Zavala/ Daily Democrat)

Student protestors announced their choice to "decamp" in late June after the UC Board of Regents and UC President Michael V. Drake rejected a proposed agreement with the university.

During a press conference, Stanford McConnehey, a media liaison for the encampment at the time, expressed disappointment in Thompson for his inaction in not just calling for a ceasefire, but also finding ways to divest from Israel.

"He could actually listen to the will of his constituents who are protesting regardless of whether or not that protest is peaceful and end his support for arms transfers to [Israel,]" he argued. "Ultimately, we're going to have to start talking about accountability for the politicians who have not only denied but also excused, celebrated and participated in the genocide, in Mike Thompson's case."

In response to Stanford's claim that the congressman is participating in genocide, Thompson made the following statement in late June.

"The levels of suffering and civilian casualties in Gaza are devastating," he remarked. "I stand unequivocally for the protection of civilian life and remain gravely concerned about the Netanyahu government's conduct. Israel's military operations must comply with international law to focus on combatting terror and degrading Hamas' military capabilities—not collective punishment on innocent Palestinians."