Democratic Rep. Jamaal Bowman of New York led a crowd in animated chants of ceasefire at a campaign rally in New York on Saturday ahead of Tuesday's primary against a pro-Israel candidate, according to footage posted on social media.
Bowman joined fellow left-leaning lawmakers, New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, in calling for a Democratic presidential nomination. Rally Rep. Bowman spoke in the South Bronx on Saturday in an attempt to galvanize the embattled congressman ahead of his primary against Westchester County, New York, Democratic executive director George Latimer. Bowman's consistent opposition to Israel's efforts to oust Hamas from the Gaza Strip has been a central issue in the campaign, but that didn't stop him from taking to the stage to call for a ceasefire and rile up the crowd with foul language.
“What do I do? You're coming for me, you're coming for my family, you're coming for my kids. Shouldn't I fight back? Shouldn't I fight back?” Bowman yelled into the microphone. “We're gonna show them who we are!” Bowman yelled, waving his hands to energize the crowd, and yelling again, “We're gonna show them who we are!” (RELATED: Jamaal Bowman reportedly asked Jewish leaders to take photos with him to prove he's not anti-Semitic)
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“Should we not fight back? Let's show them who we are!” Bowman, along with Reps. AOC and Bernie Sanders, said at a rally in the Bronx as pro-Palestinian protesters chanted in an attempt to disrupt the rally.
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Bowman also energetically led the crowd in a chant of his last name and the slogan “Ceasefire Now,” supported by activists who demand that Israel stop fighting Hamas in the Gaza Strip. During the chant, Bowman picked up chairs on stage, lifting them in the air and slamming them down on the podium.
“We will not stand by silently while America's tax dollars kill babies, women and children,” Bowman said at the rally.
With the primary looming, Bowman, who sounded fire alarms at the Capitol ahead of a crucial vote in September 2023, is banking on the “star power” of Ocasio-Cortez and Sanders to help him win. according to According to the New York Times, the rally took place in St. Mary's Park in the Bronx, which is not in Bowman's 16th District.
Bowman's stance on Israel has been one of the most prominent issues in her campaign against Latimer, who is an Emerson Pauling Republican. Projected As of June 11, he leads the incumbent by 17 percentage points, but 21 percent of respondents are still undecided. Latimer noted that Bowman has been critical of Israel's rhetoric about the war between Hamas, noting that in the last debate between the two candidates, Bowman called for a ceasefire about 72 hours after the Oct. 7 attack by Hamas. according to To the Jewish News Syndicate.
Bowman also claimed that reports of rapes committed by terrorists on October 7 were “propaganda,” but retracted that statement after the United Nations confirmed that Hamas fighters had in fact committed acts of sexual violence during the attacks. according to To Politico.
“This is about the grace of humanity, and the love we have for each other, and the love of humanity. This is what this is about,” Bowman said onstage. “And so we [the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC)]or someone else, takes away our humanity.”
Bowman's campaign did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
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