You are reading

Andrew Yang Comes Under Fire in Astoria, Following Comments on Israel-Palestinian Conflict

Andrew Yang came under fire Tuesday following a controversial tweet regarding the Israel-Palestinian conflict (Photo: @andrewYang)

May 12, 2021 By Allie Griffin

Mayoral candidate Andrew Yang got a cool reception in Astoria Tuesday after he sent out an apparent pro-Israel tweet Monday night.

Yang visited the neighborhood for an endorsement announcement and was then scheduled to join a local nonprofit to distribute groceries to families ahead of Eid al-Fitr, a Muslim holiday marking the end of Ramadan.

However, a statement he tweeted Monday evening about the Israel-Palestinian conflict left him in hot water and the nonprofit Astoria Welfare Society rescinded its invitation.

“I’m standing with the people of Israel who are coming under bombardment attacks, and condemn the Hamas terrorists,” Yang tweeted. “The people of NYC will always stand with our brothers and sisters in Israel who face down terrorism and persevere.”

The Astoria Welfare Society asked Yang not to come to the food distribution event due to his pro-Israel remarks, the nonprofit said in a statement.

“We, Astoria Welfare Society in New York, rescinded our invitation to Andrew Yang for our Eid event today,” the group tweeted. “His disregard of Palestinian lives is regrettable and immoral.”

Like the nonprofit, many New Yorkers were upset that his tweet ignored the large number of Palestinians — including children — killed by Israeli military forces over the past three days.

Two New Yorkers confronted Yang head-on about his statement on the conflict Tuesday in Astoria, video shows.

“What do you have to say about your tweet directly to New Yorkers right now,” a woman asked Yang in a video posted to Twitter by a NY1 reporter.

“It’s heartbreaking to all of us what’s happening in the Middle East,” Yang responded.

A man in the video — identified as Abid Rahman by NY1 — then asked Yang if he would condemn Israel for “their unjust acts against innocent Palestinians?”

However, Yang’s aid steps in and grabs the candidate — who has the support of the city’s Orthodox Jewish community — before he addresses the question.

“Don’t say anything that’s going to f–k up your campaign,” the woman taunted Yang in response. “And that’s why you don’t have my vote and I guarantee you, you don’t have the vote of a lot of New Yorkers.”

The video gained the attention of Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who sharply condemned Yang.

“Utterly shameful for Yang to try to show up to an Eid event after sending out a chest-thumping statement of support for a strike killing 9 children, especially after his silence as Al-Aqsa was attacked,” she tweeted. “But then to try that in Astoria? During Ramadan?! They will let you know.”

Astoria council candidate Tiffany Cabán retweeted Ocasio-Cortez’s tweet, emphasizing that Astoria residents will “let you know” when they disagree.

Ocasio-Cortez and Cabán are among a growing number of progressives in Queens who are outspoken critics of the Israeli government. Both are members of the the New York City chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA), which shares pro-Palestine views.

Another pro-Palestine politician is Astoria Assembly Member Zohran Mamdani.

Mamdani, also a DSA member, participated in an “Emergency Rally for Palestine” in front of the Israeli Consulate in Manhattan Tuesday.

“The struggle for Palestine is the struggle for dignity and every single one of us…has to be committed to dignity in Gaza; every single one of us that wants justice… needs to be fighting for justice in the West Bank,” Mamdani said at the rally.

He asked New Yorkers to pressure their elected officials to support the Palestinian-led Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) movement which asks other countries to boycott, divest and sanction Israel for its treatment of Palestinian citizens.

“We want to let them know that we have three letters that we have an answer to what is happening in Palestine. And it’s B.D.S,” he shouted, spurring a “BDS” chant.

This morning, Yang made another statement regarding the conflict.

He said a group of his own campaign volunteers approached him about the tweet which they said was “overly simplistic” and “failed to acknowledge the pain and suffering on both sides.”

“They were, of course, correct,” Yang said. “I mourn for every Palestinian life taken before its time as I do for every Israeli.”

“Support of a people does not make one blind to the pain and suffering of others,” he added.

email the author: news@queenspost.com
No comments yet

Leave a Comment
Reply to this Comment

All comments are subject to moderation before being posted.

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Recent News

Brooklyn man charged in viral Belt Parkway crash scheme captured on victim’s dashcam: DA

A Brooklyn man was criminally charged with staging a car crash on the Belt Parkway in Rosedale last month that was captured on the dashboard camera in the victim’s car and went viral on social media after it was posted on TikTok, where it was viewed by millions worldwide.

Maikel Martinez, 28, of 14th Avenue in Dyker Heights, was apprehended by law enforcement Thursday at JFK Airport after arriving back in Queens on a flight from Ecuador, Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced on Friday.

SUV explosion rocks South Ozone Park street, damaging homes and vehicles on Friday morning: FDNY

A quiet residential street in South Ozone Park was rocked by a thunderous explosion on Friday morning after an SUV filled with dangerous construction materials detonated in front of 131-16 133 St. five blocks west of the Van Wyck Expressway.

The massive blast damaged five homes and brought down Con Edison power lines on the block and obliterated the vehicle that belonged to a plumber who lives there. No one was injured in the blast but several residents of the block were near the vehicle just before it exploded, officials said..

Rosedale man sentenced to life for brutal murder and dismemberment plot inspired by crime TV shows: Feds

A Rosedale man was sentenced in Brooklyn federal court on Wednesday to life in prison for murdering and dismembering a woman to collect $200,000 in life insurance proceeds after watching episodes of “Dexter” and “The First 48” for tips on disposing of the victim’s body and covering up a violent crime.

Cory Martin, 37, was convicted by a federal jury in March following a two-week trial on all counts, including murder-for-hire, murder-for-hire conspiracy, and other related crimes.

Bishop Brennan leads All Souls Day Mass at Flushing’s Mount St. Mary Cemetery

Nov. 7, 2024 By QNS News Team

Bishop Robert Brennan, head of the Diocese of Brooklyn, led All Souls Day Mass on Saturday, Nov. 2, at Mount St. Mary Cemetery in Flushing, drawing a congregation of 450 to honor their deceased loved ones. The event, organized by the Diocese of Brooklyn’s Catholic Cemeteries office, brought together members of the community in prayerful remembrance.