Lauren Sforza
Tue, October 10, 2023
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) blasted a pro-Palestine rally in New York City over the weekend as promoting “bigotry” amid the ongoing fighting between Israel and Hamas.
Supporters for Israel and Palestine gathered in demonstrations across the country after Hamas launched a massive attack against Israel Saturday. Groups supporting Palestinians gathered in Times Square — a demonstration that was also denounced by New York Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) and Mayor Eric Adams (D).
“It should not be hard to shut down hatred and antisemitism where we see it. That is a core tenet of solidarity,” Ocasio-Cortez said in a statement obtained by The Hill.
“The bigotry and callousness expressed in Times Square on Sunday were unacceptable and harmful in this devastating moment. It also did not speak for the thousands of New Yorkers who are capable of rejecting both Hamas’ horrifying attacks against innocent civilians as well as the grave injustices and violence Palestinians face under occupation,” she said.
Adams and Rep. Jamaal Bowman (D-N.Y.) also blasted the demonstration after it was met with criticism.
“At a moment when innocent people are being slaughtered and children kidnapped in Israel, it is disgusting that this group of extremists would show support for terrorism. I reject this. New York City rejects this. Do not use our streets to spread your hate,” Adams posted on X, the platform previously known as Twitter.
“I am shocked and disgusted by the rally held here in NY this weekend celebrating death or attacks on civilians and showing swastikas. I condemn any demonstration that does this in the strongest possible terms. We must proceed on the basis of recognizing our shared humanity,” Bowman posted on X.
The Associated Press reported that a skirmish broke out Sunday between people supporting Israel and separate demonstrators supporting the Palestinians near the United Nations headquarters. Members of the Party for Socialism and Liberation also protested Sunday with about 75 people at the Israeli consulate in Atlanta, shouting chants in support of the militant group Hamas and urging the U.S. to halt aid to Israel.
—Updated at 2:30 p.m.
Alex Nguyen
Tue, October 10, 2023
Fatih Aktas/Getty
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) condemned the Democratic Socialists of America’s New York City chapter for promoting a pro-Palestine protest on X, formerly Twitter, in Times Square on Sunday. Amid the Israel-Hamas violence in Gaza, some protesters shouted antisemitic chants, and stomped on and burned an Israeli flag, prompting Ocasio-Cortez to tell Politico on Monday night that they showed “bigotry and callousness.” She continued, saying, “It also did not speak for the thousands of New Yorkers who are capable of rejecting both Hamas’ horrifying attacks against innocent civilians as well as the grave injustices and violence Palestinians face under occupation.” NYC-DSA Steering Committee Member Nadia Tykulsker explained that the group supported the gathering “because we believe in equality and justice for all Palestinians and Israelis, and we know that war will take more lives.” In a separate statement on Monday, Ocasio Cortez called for an “immediate ceasefire and de-escalation” to protect civilian lives. In a late Tuesday afternoon response, the NYC-DSA apologized for the timing of their post in support of the rally, and maintained their position regarding an immediate cease-fire, end to Israeli occupation of the West Bank and the siege on the Gaza Strip, and halt of U.S. military aid in support of apartheid.
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez condemns 'hatred and antisemitism' at pro-Palestinian rally
Alex Seitz-Wald
Tue, October 10, 2023
Adam Gray
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., condemned the “bigotry and callousness” displayed at a pro-Palestinian rally held this weekend and promoted by some of her allies.
The rally was held Sunday in Times Square as Israel reeled from a massive surprise attack the day before by Hamas militants, who killed and kidnapped more than a thousand Israeli civilians.
Despite a heavy police presence at the rally, there were some clashes between pro-Palestinian activists, whose signs portrayed the attack as a legitimate form of political resistance, and pro-Israel demonstrators, who decried the protesters as antisemitic and terrorist sympathizers.
The rally had been promoted by Democratic Socialists of America, a left-wing group that helped elect Ocasio-Cortez and other progressives, but it faced criticism from some of its own elected officials for endorsing the event, which was held even before Israel had been able to count the dead.
“It should not be hard to shut down hatred and antisemitism where we see it. That is a core tenet of solidarity,” Ocasio-Cortez said in a statement first shared with Politico's New York affiliate late Monday.
“The bigotry and callousness expressed in Times Square on Sunday were unacceptable and harmful in this devastating moment," the congresswoman continued. "It also did not speak for the thousands of New Yorkers who are capable of rejecting both Hamas’ horrifying attacks against innocent civilians as well as the grave injustices and violence Palestinians face under occupation.”
While the mainstream Democratic Party remains overwhelmingly supportive of Israel, the left wing of the party has grown increasingly supportive of the Palestinian cause in recent years, with some comparing Israeli treatment of Palestinians to Apartheid South Africa and promoting anti-Israeli actions like the Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) movement.
Jewish leaders, including some on the left otherwise sympathetic to the plight of Palestinian, have long expressed concern that that kind of rhetoric and targeted action help normalize antisemitism, creating an ugly point of friction inside the progressive movement and between the movement and the Democratic Party, which has flared up on multiple occasions.
Ocasio-Cortez and other progressives have tried to straddle the divide by expressing support for Palestinians while reaffirming support for Israel's right to exist, but they have often faced criticism for it, being accused mostly of being too soft on Palestinian militants.
Earlier, she called the events of the weekend “devastating for all those seeking a lasting peace and respect for human rights in Israel and Palestine” and said, “I condemn Hamas’ attack in the strongest possible terms.”
But she also called for an “immediate ceasefire and de-escalation,” which is not acceptable to Israel and its allies, including the United States, as Israel now moves to destroy Hamas.
This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
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