Jewish Congressional Candidate Brad Lander Attacked at Protest
Brad Lander, the progressive Jewish Democratic candidate for New York's 10th Congressional District, was verbally attacked and shouted down at a protest outside Madison Square Garden on Saturday. Lander had arrived to express solidarity with the demonstrators but was met with curses and demands that he leave because he is a Zionist. Chants of "We don't want Zionists here" were repeatedly directed at him, with one protester stating, "You are a Zionist. We don't need you. We don't need your help. South Asians are doing just fine without Zionists here." Others hurled insults, including one who called him a "Zionist ballsack."
The incident occurred during a protest against an event hosted by the Hindu nationalist RSS movement. Lander attempted to explain that he came to join their struggle, but some protesters made it clear that even a Zionist who opposes the Israeli government's policies was not welcome. This confrontation highlighted the irony, as Lander himself has been a vocal Jewish critic of Israel within the progressive wing of the Democratic Party. He has called the war in Gaza "genocide," urged an end to U.S. "complicity" in it, and stated he would not support further military aid to Israel.
Despite his criticisms, Lander identifies as a "liberal Zionist," supports Israel's existence as a Jewish and democratic state, and opposes the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement. During the confrontation, he identified himself as the Democratic candidate for NY-10 and stated he was there to oppose the RSS, which he called a "fascist and hateful rally," comparing its hosting to a 1939 pro-Nazi rally at the venue.
Not all protesters joined the attack; some attempted to intervene and calm the situation, urging Lander that they were all there for the same cause. Lander acknowledged their efforts but refused to accept the demand to leave, stating, "They are making it very difficult for me to leave. They have no right to tell me where to stand."
Lander, a former New York City Comptroller candidate, defeated incumbent Congressman Dan Goldman, a strong supporter of Israel, in the Democratic primary. Goldman received 34% of the vote compared to Lander's 66%. Lander had the active support of New York City Mayor Eric Adams and had criticized Goldman during the campaign for his support of military aid to Israel. The RSS event featured thousands of attendees, with RSS leader Mohan Bhagwat as the keynote speaker. The RSS is considered the ideological parent of India's ruling BJP party, and critics accuse it of extreme nationalism and inciting hatred against minorities, claims the movement denies.
The confrontation with Lander illustrates the growing tensions within the progressive camp regarding Israel. Even a Jewish politician who has adopted much of the left's sharp criticism of the Gaza war, and who came to protest alongside progressives calling for a "Free Palestine," was verbally attacked simply for maintaining his Zionist identity.
