NYC Socialist City Councillors Were Targeted for Their Israel Stance. They Still Won Big.
In Tuesday’s election, socialist city councillors in New York City easily fended off right-wing and centrist attempts to use their pro-Palestine stance against them. They won each of their races handily.
Councilmember Tiffany Caban was reelected in Queens, New York City, on November 7, 2023. (Felton Davis / Flickr)
In the days leading up to Tuesday’s election, the right-wing fearmongering on the Middle East reached a fever pitch. In an article published on November 4, the conservative New York Post flagged five pro-Palestine city council members up for election, accusing them of “blaming Israel for Hamas attacks” and other “hateful rhetoric” about Israel’s war in Gaza, and noting that three of them were members of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA). Those lawmakers were Shahana Hanif of Brooklyn, Sandy Nurse of Brooklyn, Chi Ossé of Brooklyn, Tiffany Cabán of Queens, and Alexa Avilés of Brooklyn (the last three are DSA members).
The Post article contained numerous falsehoods, characterizing as “pro-Hamas” a DSA-organized October 20 protest at which Councilwoman Shahana Hanif, the first Muslim woman to serve on the New York City Council, was arrested. (Of course, that rally was not pro-Hamas, but did call for a cease-fire).
The Post wasn’t alone in relentlessly targeting these lawmakers in the weeks before the election. Mayor Eric Adams, Congressman Ritchie Torres, and others attempted to smear the socialists for political gain, accusing DSA of antisemitism and support for terrorism.
This article is for subscribers only. Please login or subscribe to access our full archives and beautiful print and digital magazine starting at just $3 a month.