RICHMOND, Calif. — Jewish organizations in Northern California are intensifying calls for the resignation of Richmond Mayor Eduardo Martinez after he shared and commented on social media posts promoting antisemitic conspiracy theories about the deadly Bondi Beach Hanukkah attack in Australia.
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The Jewish Community Relations Council of the Bay Area said Martinez repeatedly amplified false claims blaming Jews or Israel for the attack, describing the conduct as “dangerously antisemitic” and incompatible with public office.
Martinez, however, said he believes the controversy should be considered resolved following his public apologies. In an interview with JNS, Martinez said he had taken responsibility for reposting the material.
Richmond Mayor Eduardo Martinez, an elected official responsible for more than 100,000 residents, has engaged in a disturbing pattern of antisemitic conduct. In recent days, he has shared multiple LinkedIn posts that appear to blame Jews for the Bondi Beach terror attack. This… pic.twitter.com/BhzDj0gQ7V
— JCRC Bay Area (@SFJCRC) December 18, 2025
“I retracted my mistakes. I own them,” Martinez said. “I was hoping that people would listen with compassion and understanding.”
Martinez told JNS that he had reached out to a local rabbi for what he described as a “heart-to-heart” conversation, though he said he could not recall the rabbi’s name.
The criticism followed the resurfacing of LinkedIn posts shared by Martinez that described the “behavior of Israel and Israelis” as the “root cause of antisemitism” and suggested that public Hanukkah celebrations had been “weaponized” by Zionist organizations. Some of the posts also implied that the Sydney shooting may have been a “false flag” operation.
Australian authorities have said the attackers were motivated by Islamic State ideology.
The JCRC said the mayor’s conduct “does not exist in isolation,” citing past remarks and actions, including comments made earlier this year at a pro-Palestinian conference and a city resolution passed shortly after the Oct. 7 Hamas attacks that did not condemn Hamas.
Martinez disputed accusations that he endorsed violence, telling JNS that he condemns all violence and describing himself as a pacifist. He said some of his statements were misinterpreted and acknowledged it was a mistake to wear clothing bearing an inflammatory slogan at a public event.
Jewish advocacy organizations, including the Anti-Defamation League and the American Jewish Committee, said the mayor’s explanations do not excuse amplifying antisemitic narratives.
Martinez has not said whether he plans to resign.
A long-time soneh yisrael – as are many other extreme leftists in Northern California governments and universities.
Why is it that Hispanics which are allegedly an “oppressed minority group”, amplify the postings of all of these psychos, who would go after their group in a heartbeat?
No problem California has a recall provision
Start a recall of the mayor