Detroit community activist Al 'BJ' Williams is facing backlash and accusations of antisemitism after stating that the Democratic Party is 'not the Jewish party' and that there are more voices than just Zionists and Jewish Americans in the party. Williams has positioned himself as a progressive outsider candidate in the race for the chair of Michigan's Democratic Party. A range of activists, including Arab- and Palestinian-led coalitions as well as Jewish organizations, have distanced themselves from Williams and endorsed his opponent, former state senator Curtis Hertel. Williams has defended his comments, stating that they were taken out of context.