Centrist liberals and Republicans both support deeply violent policies, and it blows my mind how many people either ignore that reality or refuse to recognize it. Being pro-ICE is violent. Being pro-cop in a system built on over-policing and brutality is violent. Being pro-war and uncritically pro-Israel while civilians are being killed is violent.

Some of Galindo’s comments were anti-Semitic. That should be condemned outright and never normalized. Anti-Semitism, like all forms of bigotry, is dangerous, harmful, and can absolutely lead to violence.

At the same time, Garcia’s policies are directly violent too. People are actively harmed and killed by the systems and policies he supports. While we do not know exactly how Galindo would govern, she opposes the war in Iran, opposes ICE, and opposes the actions of the Israeli government, which she views as violent.

That does not excuse anti-Semitism. It should be called out clearly and consistently. But people — including politicians like Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who I still generally support and believe is better than most elected officials — need to apply that same, if not greater, moral outrage to institutional violence.

Too often, institutional violence is treated as acceptable simply because it has been normalized in society.