A press conference intended to spotlight San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie’s proposal to overhaul the city’s tax structure was interrupted Wednesday by protesters who began with anti-wealth slogans and then erupted into antisemitic chants, according to officials and witnesses who attended the event.

The gathering, held outside a construction site to promote joint legislation by Lurie and Supervisor Bilal Mahmood aimed at reshaping San Francisco’s real estate transfer taxes to encourage housing development and investment, drew demonstrators affiliated with the San Francisco chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America. Initially, protesters shouted “Tax the rich” from outside the venue.

According to those present, the rhetoric soon turned from criticism of wealth to chants focused on Israel, with at least one person yelling “Tax the Jews.” Sources said the antisemitic shouting continued for more than a minute without interruption.

“Suggesting that Jews are wealthy is a tired trope, and targeting our community at an event focused on creating economic opportunity for San Franciscans is decidedly antisemitic,” Lurie, who is Jewish, posted on X.

“I will never accept hate directed at the Jewish community or any community in our city. Those are not San Francisco values—we’re better than that.”

One shaken attendee told The Post that the chants referencing Jews and Israel lasted for approximately two minutes before “petering out,” adding that no one among the demonstrators intervened to stop the offensive remarks.

Video obtained by The Post shows a woman periodically shouting “tax Israel” and “Tax the Jews” while labor representatives were addressing the crowd from a podium.

“It was an, ‘are you hearing what I’m hearing?’ moment,” the source said.

Rudy Gonzalez, who leads the San Francisco Building and Construction Trades Council, criticized the disruption in a post on Instagram, specifically naming the Democratic Socialists of America.

“During today’s press conference, individuals identifying themselves with the Democratic Socialists of America disrupted the event with antisemitic chants,” he wrote.

“As a father and a husband in an interfaith home, I found what was shouted today deeply disturbing. Hate directed at any community is wrong. It undermines the solidarity that working people depend on.”

The San Francisco branch of the DSA rejected claims that the woman who shouted “tax the Jews” was acting on its behalf, saying she was not part of the group and that members told her to stop.

“DSA SF members at the protest were similarly disgusted and horrified by this woman’s rhetoric, and want to make clear her words came from her alone. While we disagree on policy, we join you in condemning antisemitism.”

The disruption overshadowed what had been intended as a policy rollout by city officials and labor leaders advocating for reduced transfer tax rates on residential developments and downtown property transactions, a move they argue would help accelerate the city’s economic rebound.

Supporters of the proposal, including Lurie, Mahmood, the San Francisco Building and Construction Trades Council and the Chamber of Commerce, contend that adjusting the tax structure would generate employment and lower construction expenses by $32,850 per housing unit.

{Matzav.com}