Adam Schiff's Victory Speech Drowned Out by Protesters

Democratic Representative Adam Schiff's victory speech on Tuesday night was drowned out by protesters calling for a ceasefire in Gaza.

The congressman won the Senate primary race in California, and will compete in a November runoff against Republican Steve Garvey, a former baseball star, for the Senate seat long held by the late Dianne Feinstein.

Schiff spoke at an election night party in Los Angeles, but was interrupted by protesters chanting "Ceasefire now."

He paused, before telling the audience: "We are so lucky, so lucky to live in a democracy where we all have the right to protest."

Schiff tried to speak over the protesters as they continued chanting during his speech, before abruptly ending his remarks.

"Jews for Ceasefire, including @IfNotNowLA & @JVP_LA, and allies just completely shut down Adam Schiff's Super Tuesday speech. He gave up on his prepared remarks and left the stage," IfNotNow wrote on X, formerly Twitter. "As Jews, we cannot be silent as the people of Gaza are slaughtered. Let Gaza Live!"

ifNotNow describes itself on its website as "a movement of American Jews organizing our community to end U.S. support for Israel's apartheid system and demand equality, justice, and a thriving future for all Palestinians and Israelis."

Schiff's campaign and IfNotNow have been contacted for further comment via email.

Schiff has been outspoken in support of Israel's right to defend itself following Hamas' October 7 attack on Israel.

But on Tuesday he backed the Biden administration's call for a ceasefire in Gaza as part of a deal that would include the release of hostages.

"My position is the same as the administration, which is there needs to be a deal to release the hostages and have a pause in the fighting," Schiff told reporters.

President Joe Biden is facing mounting pressure over his handling of Israel's war on Hamas amid the mounting death toll in Gaza and the suffering of innocent Palestinians.

About 1,200 people were killed and around 250 were taken hostage during Hamas' October 7 attack. More than 30,000 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza in the five months since Israel launched its air, sea and ground offensive in response, The Associated Press reported, citing the Gaza Health Ministry. The violence has displaced more than 80 percent of Gaza's population and the United Nations has warned that at least a quarter of Gaza's 2.3 million people face starvation.

Over the weekend, Vice President Kamala Harris issued a forceful call for an "immediate" ceasefire deal in Gaza and for Israel to allow aid into the region.

"The president and I have been aligned and consistent from the very beginning," Harris told reporters on Monday shortly before meeting with Benny Gantz, a member of Israel's wartime Cabinet.

"Israel has a right to defend itself," she said. "Far too many Palestinian civilians, innocent civilians have been killed. We need to get more aid in. We need to get hostages out. And that remains our position."

Update 3/6/24, 3.30 a.m. ET: This article has been updated with additional information.