Jewish Democrats ripped New York Metropolis Comptroller Brad Lander as “sick and hateful” for taking part in a joint fundraiser with embattled anti-Israel “Squad” member Rep. Jamaal Bowman Thursday evening — on the tony Manhattan residence of a Columbia professor.
“Congressman Bowman’s confirmed himself to be a vile antisemite, however as a substitute of separating from him, Comptroller Lander doubles down on his endorsement,” Councilman Kalman Yeger, a Brooklyn Democrat who represents a district with a heavy religious pro-Israel Jewish constituency, fumed.
“It’s sick and hateful, however New Yorkers have come to count on that from Brad. Something for a checkmark on his woke card.”
Many professional-Israel Dems contemplate Bowman an enemy of the Jewish state.
He not too long ago got here below hearth after video emerged displaying the lawmaker calling Israel an “apartheid” state as he angrily claimed reported rapes and child murders during Hamas’ October terror attacks had been a “lie” and “propaganda.”
The controversial congressman additionally denounced the mass arrests of violent pro-terror rioters at Columbia College Tuesday evening and known as on People to “stand with our college students to demand liberation for Palestinians and everybody on this world.”
Lander has additionally hardened his criticism of Israel lately, even supporting ice cream maker Ben & Jerry’s boycott of the Jewish state for its occupation of the West Financial institution.
He beforehand opposed such boycotts.
The joint fundraiser was held on the Higher West Aspect residence of Jessica Hirsch, a professor on the Mailman College of Public Well being at Columbia College and board member of the left-wing nonprofit Jews for Racial and Financial Justice.
Hirsch additionally publicly condemned the mass arrest final month of anti-Israel protesters who had arrange an encampment on Columbia’s South Garden.
“We won’t tolerate this suppression of pupil speech, disregard of due course of and governance, and spiteful pupil suspensions/ejection from the dorms,” she wrote on X.
The occasion at her residence was co-hosted by former lefty Manhattan Borough President Ruth Messinger and donations will probably be cut up between Bowman’s re-election marketing campaign and Lander’s 2025 re-election marketing campaign for comptroller, based on the invitation.
“Lander is popping on the Jewish neighborhood by supporting somebody who shouldn’t be a supporter of Israel, not a pal of the Jewish neighborhood,” mentioned Michael Nussbaum, former president of the Queens Jewish Group Council and a member of the board.
“Lander has crossed a crimson line,” he mentioned.
Matthew McDermott
Democrat Hank Sheinkopf, an Orthodox Jew, ordained rabbi and longtime political advisor, famous that Bowman also put convicted cop-killer Joanne Chesimard in his Bronx center faculty’s corridor of honor when he was principal — and not too long ago defended the choice when confronted about it.
“Brad Lander is now a cop-hater and a Jew-hater — though he’s a Jew,” Sheinkopf fumed.
The Publish reached out to Democratic socialist Lander, the Bowman marketing campaign and Hirsch for remark.
Bowman faces a tricky Democratic major battle in his bid for a 3rd time period within the sixteenth Congressional District that takes in southern Westchester County and components of the northeastern Bronx.
He’s going through off in opposition to Westchester County Government George Latimer, who has robust backing from pro-Israel teams and is well-known within the county.
One latest ballot claimed Latimer had an enormous double-digit lead amongst seemingly Democratic voters within the June 25 major.
However Bowman has the backing of fellow progressive Squad members — including Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) and the Working Households Get together.
Bowman additionally got here below intense hearth for pulling a hearth alarm in a Capitol workplace constructing with the intention to delay a vote to avert a authorities shutdown final 12 months.
He pleaded responsible to a misdemeanor rely and was censured by the Republican-led Home of Representatives.
