Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer is postponing events in Baltimore and other cities this week for his upcoming book after some groups planned to hold protests.
Schumer was scheduled to speak Monday evening at the Central Enoch Pratt Free Library on Cathedral Street about his book, “Antisemitism in America: A Warning,” which is slated to be published Tuesday. The event was indefinitely postponed for “security reasons,” according to an email from the Enoch Pratt Free Library.
Schumer also had events scheduled in Washington, Philidelphia and other cities this week, which have also been postponed.
The New York senator is facing backlash after he voted across party lines on Friday to help the Senate pass a six-month spending bill hours before a government shutdown. The bill faced sharp opposition from Democrats. Sen. Angela Alsobrooks, who voted against the bill, said in a statement that support for the bill would mean supporting President Donald Trump’s agenda.
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While the Pratt email didn’t offer specifics about the security concerns, activists on social media were organizing protests outside of Schumer’s book tour stops.
The Baltimore chapter of activist group Jewish Voice for Peace said it’ll still hold a rally Monday across from the library along with other groups, including Baltimore Artists Against Apartheid and Greater Baltimore Democratic Socialists of America.
“It is concerning that Senator Schumer’s event was cancelled citing ‘security risks,’ when the protest planned is a nonviolent exercising of our freedom of speech,” Rabbi Ariana Katz, who is speaking at the rally, said in a press release.
In Baltimore on Monday evening, some protesters still gathered outside the library where Schumer was scheduled to speak.
While the group was more focused on Schumer’s strong support for Israel, some speakers criticized his decision to vote to move forward with the spending bill. Homemade signs read “Schumer is a coward” and “Chuck sold us out.”
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One organizer celebrated that they had “pushed Chuck Schumer out of Baltimore,” to cheers.
“If Sen. Schumer wants to come back, we’ll be even more prepared,” said Nikki Morse, a spokesperson with the Baltimore chapter of Jewish Voice for Peace.
Schumer has also been under fire for his rhetoric surrounding the Israel-Hamas war and university protests over Gaza. According to Politico, Schumer has supported the U.S. sending more aid to Israel but has also criticized Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
In an interview with the New York Times published on Sunday, Schumer discussed his book and his views on the line between antisemitism and legitimate criticism of Israel, including protests on college campuses.
“It’s not that Israel is above criticism. Of course, it is not above criticism,” Schumer said in the interview. “But Hamas — I’m sorry, it matters so much to me. I feel so deeply about it. No one blames Hamas."
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A publicist for Schumer’s book said there is not yet a new date for the Baltimore event, but that it would be rescheduled for a time that works for both the senator and Enoch Pratt.
Associated Press writer Lea Skene in Baltimore contributed to this report.
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