Rep. Jamaal Bowman and Rep. Rashida Tlaib, leading a Free Free Palestine chant at NYC fundraiser. Photo from Rep. Bowman’s Instagram
By Dan Murphy
Every week brings news about the democratic primary for Congress between Congressman Jamaal Bowman and County Executive George Latimer.
Latimer recently announced his call for a ceasefire in Gaza, as did State Senator Shelley Mayer. And Jamaal Bowman released a video with and Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib, leading a chant of Free Palestine, that went viral and had some Westchester democrats concerned.
The divisions between supporters of Bowman and supporters of Latimer can be found in two letters to the editor, found on pg 5. One is from a Bronxville resident; the second from a PBA leader. Both are democrats. One criticizes County Executive George Latimer, for his decision to challenge Congressman Jamaal Bowman. The second letter calls on Bowman to denounce cop killer Assata Shakur. When Bowman was an educator at a Bronx Middle School, Shakur was placed on the school’s Wall of Heroes.
Rep. Bowman recently held an event with Rep. Rashida Tlaib at a “Muslims for Reps. Jamaal Bowman & Rashida Tlaib Fundraiser,” in New York City. At that event, Bowman posed a video of him leading the crowd in a “Free Free Palestine” chant.
The video, link- https://twitter.com/jacobkornbluh/status/1764502019547464123, titled, “The movement for justice is growing,” drew criticism from Jewish democrats in Bowman’s district.
Bowman has accused Israel of “genocide” and “mass murder” in Gaza. Talib was censured for “promoting false narratives” about the October 7th attacks by Hamas on Israel, and for “calling for the destruction of the state of Israel.”
Latimer recently posted on X-Twitter, “I support President Biden’s temporary ceasefire that finally brings home all of the Israeli hostages and gets humanitarian aid to Gaza. This is about building enduring peace resolutions and this plan will save countless lives and restore humanity.”
The decision by Latimer to support a ceasefire was noteworthy because many of his democratic supporters in Westchester have questioned Bowman’s comments about Israel. And the American Israeli-Political Action Committee, (AIPAC), has helped their supporters donate to Latimer’s campaign.
Bowman responded to Latimer by saying, “George Latimer’s opposition to a ceasefire was why he was recruited by AIPAC and their Republican donors to run against me in the first place. It’s disgraceful that it took 30,000 deaths and hundreds of thousands starving for George to change his tune.”
State Senator Shelley Mayer also stated her support for a ceasefire. “I couldn’t let this week go by without speaking about the War in Gaza – 150 days since the seizure of hostages and they must be released now! We cannot wait anymore for them to be reunited with their loved ones. And, we know too many innocent Palestinians have suffered.
“On the eve of the holy days of Ramadan, I join the call of Vice President Harris and many others for an immediate bilateral ceasefire – at least for the next six weeks but hopefully for much longer – that includes: 1) immediate release of all of the hostages, 2) an immediate cessation of hostilities in the Gaza Region and resumption of food and humanitarian assistance to Gaza, and 3) and a real plan for a long-term peace that ensures Israeli security and self-determination for Palestinian civilians – a true two-state solution. This is a subject that is difficult and emotional for me and others. We cannot wait any longer for peace for all – we must have the release of the hostages followed by the full cessation of all attacks on all innocent civilians in Israel and Gaza,” said Mayer.
