Brad Lander Ousted from NYC Protest After Antisemitic Shouts

Brad Lander, a Jewish Democrat who secured the nomination for New York's 10th congressional district by defeating Dan Goldman with a platform critical of Israel, attended a protest against RSS leader Mohan Bhagwat at Madison Square Garden. Although he intended to show solidarity with Muslim protesters, a demonstrator shouted antisemitic insults, including “fuck you Zionist ballsack,” and other attendees urged him to leave the venue.

Lander responded briefly before retreating for his safety, as captured on video. The rally was organized after Mayor Zohran Mamdani condemned Bhagwat’s appearance, though he lacked authority to cancel it. Lander’s primary strategy involved labeling the Gaza conflict a genocide, a stance that earned him support from left-leaning groups but also drew criticism for feeding antisemitic narratives. The incident highlights the fraught relationship between progressive activism and antisemitic sentiment within some protest circles.