CHICAGO—Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D., N.Y.) said he would always "stand up to anti-Semitism" in a speech to the Democratic National Convention that ignored left-wing anti-Israel protests raging outside the convention.
While Schumer didn’t acknowledge the anti-Israel protests, he did accuse Republican nominee Donald Trump of promoting "anti-Semitic stereotypes."
"I’m wearing this blue square to stand up to anti-Semitism," said Schumer, pointing to a square on his jacket.
"As the highest ranking Jewish elected official in American history I want my grandkids and all grandkids to never never face discrimination because of who they are. Donald Trump is a guy who peddles anti-Semitic stereotypes," Schumer said.
Schumer’s comments come as anti-Israel protesters have descended on the DNC, displaying Hezbollah flags and harassing an Orthodox Jewish group that held a convention event on anti-Semitism on Tuesday.
The protesters chanted, "Brick by brick, wall by wall, Zionism has got to fall," disrupting the event organized by the Jewish group Agudath Israel of America.
It also comes as some Democratic leaders have defended terrorism against Israel and called for cutting off defensive military aid to the country. Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D., Mich.) has promoted the "From the River to the Sea" slogan that calls for the destruction of the Jewish state.
The protests have received some support from inside the convention. President Joe Biden said in his speech on Monday that the anti-Israel protesters "have a point." Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D., N.Y.) gave a speech on Monday promising that Harris would pressure Israel for a ceasefire if elected president.
Schumer's speech was followed by remarks from Sen. Bernie Sanders (I., Vt.), who directly called for a "ceasefire" between the Jewish state and Hamas.
"We must end this horrific war in Gaza," Sanders said. "Bring home the hostages and demand an immediate cease fire."
Those comments, the most direct about the war in Gaza of the convention so far, were met with raucous applause from the crowd.