Bay Area Jewish leaders are demanding Richmond Mayor Eduardo Martinez resign, issuing a strongly worded statement this week saying his conduct has repeatedly undermined the safety and dignity of Jewish residents in Richmond.
In an open letter, the Jewish Community Relations Council Bay Area (JCRC) said Martinez posted several LinkedIn messages spreading false conspiracies that blamed Jewish people for the Bondi Beach terror attack in Sydney, Australia.
Martinez reportedly shared and reposted LinkedIn content suggesting the deadly Bondi Beach attack in Sydney was a “false flag” and implying Israel and Israelis are the “root cause of antisemitism,” and he later wrote in his own post that antisemitism predates Israel and that “Zionism and Judaism are two separate beliefs.”
The JCRC called Martinez’s posts “dangerously antisemitic, deeply offensive, and wholly unacceptable — particularly coming from a sitting mayor,” and noted that the words of public officials carry weight and can put communities at risk when they echo harmful stereotypes.
After the LinkedIn posts, Martinez publicly apologized on LinkedIn, saying he shared them “without thinking” and later deleted them. He wrote that “antisemitism was here before the creation of the state of Israel” and attempted to clarify that Zionism and Judaism are separate. Martinez also said the posts reflected his personal views, not official statements from his office.
Critics say his response did not fully reject the conspiracy implications and failed to address the harm caused.
The JCRC also referenced earlier incidents this year, including remarks Martinez made at the People’s Conference for Palestine in Detroit in which he compared himself to Hamas and wore a hat with the letters “DDTTIDF,” widely interpreted as standing for “Death, Death To The Israel Defense Forces (IDF).” The group said those actions drew criticism for being insensitive and raised further concerns among Jewish community members.
Another issue highlighted in the letter was a Richmond City Council resolution passed soon after the Oct. 7, 2023 attacks in Israel. The resolution called for a ceasefire but did not condemn Hamas, which the JCRC said is part of a broader pattern of disregard for the well-being of Jewish residents.
In its open letter, the JCRC said Martinez’s actions erode public trust and send a message to Jewish residents that they are not protected or respected by their mayor, and that no community should be led by someone whose behavior fuels fear, division, and exclusion.
Martinez has not publicly said whether he will resign.
