"There is no such thing as a good Zionist": Jewish candidate attacked by anti-Israel protesters
Brad Lander, a progressive Jewish candidate who called the war in Gaza a "genocide," was verbally attacked by anti-Israel protesters even though he arrived to join their protest. "There is no such thing as a good Zionist," they shouted at him, demanding he leave the place.
Brad Lander, a progressive Jewish candidate for the Democratic Party for the House of Representatives in New York's 10th District, was verbally attacked last night (Saturday) by anti-Israel protesters outside Madison Square Garden in Manhattan, even though he arrived at the scene to join their protest against an event by the Hindu-nationalist RSS movement. The incident was documented in several videos published by a local field reporter known by the nickname "Ola Scooterxter".
"You are a Zionist. We don't need your help. South Asians are doing just fine without Zionists here," one of the protesters shouted at him. "There is no such thing as a good Zionist. I don't care if you define yourself as a liberal Zionist." Later, chants of "Get out of here, Zionist," "Go support genocide somewhere else," and "We don't want Zionists here" were heard. Other protesters hurled crude insults at Lander, calling him, among other things, a "Zionist ball sack" and demanding repeatedly: "Get the f*** out of here."
Despite this, the crowd did not act as a monolith. Some of those present tried to stand between Lander and the attackers, to calm the spirits, and to clarify that he had been invited to the protest. Lander, for his part, said that the attackers were making it "very difficult" for him to leave, but added: "They have no right to tell me where to stand."
The confrontation took place during a counter-protest to the "Universal Unity Celebration" event, which was held at the Infosys Hall in the Madison Square Garden complex with the participation of about 5,000 people. The keynote speaker was Mohan Bhagwat, leader of the RSS, a Hindu-nationalist movement considered the ideological parent organization of the ruling BJP party in India. Its critics accuse it of incitement and violence against minorities, while it rejects the claims. New York City Council member Zohran Mamdani also opposed the event, but admitted that the municipality likely has no authority to cancel a private gathering.
Lander introduced himself to the cameras and said he had come "to join others and say no to the RSS." According to him, Madison Square Garden is hosting a "fascist and hate-filled rally," just as it hosted the infamous pro-Nazi rally in 1939. When he tried to explain his presence to the protesters, he added: "I would be happy at another opportunity to talk about how to achieve a free Palestine. Today I came to say no to the RSS rally, I was invited to come and express solidarity."
Lander, a former New York City Comptroller, defines himself as a "liberal Zionist" and has previously stated that he supports Israel's existence as a Jewish and democratic state and opposes the BDS movement. However, in the last year, he has greatly sharpened his positions against Israel: he called the war in Gaza a "genocide," called to end "American complicity" in it, and declared that at that time he would not vote for additional aid to Israel — even when asked explicitly about funding for the Iron Dome. In the past, he even called to establish a "coalition of anti-Zionists and liberal Zionists."
In June, Lander defeated House member Dan Goldman in the Democratic primaries, a moderate Democrat and one of the prominent supporters of Israel in the party, with a landslide result of 66% to 34%. Lander, who enjoyed the active support of Mamdani, attacked Goldman during the campaign for his votes in favor of military aid to Israel, his refusal to call the war a "genocide," and his avoidance of the term "occupation." In his victory speech, Lander called on the Democratic Party to distance itself, among other things, from political action committees funded by AIPAC, the pro-Israel lobby in Washington.
This is not the first case in recent times where a Jewish politician has been attacked even after adopting harsh positions against Israel. In June, California state Jewish Senator Scott Wiener was harassed at a bar in the Mission District in San Francisco by an activist who called him a "Zionist," demanded he say "Free Palestine," and ordered him to leave the neighborhood. According to him, the group continued to shout and bang on the wall for about half an hour. Two days later, protesters surrounded Wiener at Dolores Park, on his way to a Pride prayer and the Trans March, accused him of taking orders from his "Israeli handlers," and shouted: "You stopped being queer the moment you supported Israel." Wiener, who himself called Israel's actions a "genocide" and opposed military funding for it, was forced to leave. He recounted that the same activist followed him on a plane and at an airport in December 2023 and shouted about his "filthy bloodline."
