The San Francisco Latinx Democratic Club (LDC) rejects GrowSF’s irresponsible statement mischaracterizing the LDC’s reasons for departing from the San Francisco Democratic Party (SFDP).
The Facts:
The LDC membership voted against rechartering due to the SFDC's prioritization of tech money (like GrowSF) and intensifying disregard of working people and Latino issues. GrowSF's statement combines errors, falsehoods, and racist dog whistles, underscoring the LDC membership's reasons for leaving.
The Context:
Following a deliberative club process, the LDC’s membership voted to leave the SFDC, just as the Rose Pak Asian American Club (formerly Rose Pak Democratic Club) did before it.
GrowSF's statement disregards the actual context that the SFDP failed the LDC's membership. Instead, GrowSF engages in racist dog whistles. GrowSF effaces the LDC membership's decision by caricaturing it as the sole decision of its current president, invoking the racist stereotype of a dictator and insulting the LDC membership.
GrowSF further attempts to erase the LDC membership's democratic action with allegations of sexual assault. LDC convened a Special Investigation Committee (SIC) and publicly announced its investigation into the allegations against its president. GrowSF's statement that the process "excluded Ms. Hajee's testimony" is knowingly false. The SIC invited Ms. Zahra Hajee to present information; Ms. Hajee referred the SIC to her public statements and refused further involvement. The alleged second accuser is anonymous and made no report to the LDC despite the publicly announced investigation. The SIC's investigation considered evidence, including Ms. Hajee's public statements, and presented its findings. The Executive Board stands by the results of the SIC investigation.
GrowSF's conflation of Jon Jacobo's alleged conduct with the Mission, Latinos, and the LDC membership is despicable. A judicial process is underway regarding the allegations against Mr. Jacobo. Mr. Jacobo is not a member of the LDC.
The LDC Take:
The LDC membership rejects GrowSF's irresponsible caricatures and racist "take." GrowSF and the SFDP are better served by listening to departing members than attempting to drown out their voices with dog-whistles.