AOC and Bernie Sanders dubbed ‘fraudulent’ as far-left group at Jamaal Bowman rally attacks them for not being sufficiently pro-Palestinian
BRONX, NEW YORK: Reps Jamaal Bowman and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez caused a stir at a rally for Bowman's primary campaign in the Bronx on Saturday, June 22.
During the event, the host congressman delivered an impassioned speech, pledging to show "who we really are."
At the "Get Out The Vote" rally in St Mary's Park, Bowman showcased his physical strength, while his fellow "Squad" member, AOC, energetically took the stage to a Cardi B song. In her passionate address to an audience of 300, she emphasized the importance of "taking on Wall Street," according to the New York Post.
Jamaal Bowman uses harsh language to address critics
Bowman exemplified the Democratic spirit by using assertive language to address critics and rally support in his competitive campaign against Westchester County Executive George Latimer, a centrist Democrat.
“We are gonna show them who the f**k we are! We are gonna show them who the f**k we are!” he shouted.
At one point, he lifted a stool and called on the crowd to chant "ceasefire now" regarding the conflict in Gaza. He also used strong language while criticizing the pro-Israel AIPAC group.
“Our people are more powerful than their power. It is time for us to show them the real power of the people. We’re going to show them how mighty we are … We are gonna show f**king AIPAC the power of the motherf**king South Bronx,” he said.
The rally, which was attended by former presidential candidate Bernie Sanders, aimed to boost his standing in the polls for the June 25 primary against Latimer.
Concurrently, outside the park, the anti-Israel group Within Our Lifetime, led by Nerdeen Kiswani and Fatima Mousa, organized the 'Flood the Bronx for Gaza' event.
This was a counter-demonstration criticizing Sanders and AOC for not meeting their standards of sufficient support for Palestine.
Some participants beat drums while others held signs with slogans like, "For class war to liberate Palestine! Reject Genocide Joe and the Squad."
“If Bowman and the rest of them claim to be allies of the Palestinian people, the bare minimum is not endorsing the person we have been protesting against the last nine months and who has enabled the genocide of the people in Gaza,” Kiswani repeated a discredited Hamas talking point.
The White House, under President Biden, has stated that Israel is not engaging in genocide in its conflict with Hamas.
Jamaal Bowman expresses concern about substantial funds being used to finance his removal from office
At the rally supporting Bowman, held outside his district, Sanders, Ocasio-Cortez, and other speakers did not address the protest visible beyond the park gates.
They praised Bowman and voiced concerns about the unprecedented $14.5 million that the American Israel Public Affairs Committee was spending on various media advertisements to target Bowman for his criticisms of the Jewish state.
"Are we ready to take on AIPAC?" Ocasio-Cortez called out, eliciting cheers from the audience. “Are we ready to kick some Wall Street ass? Because we are tired of having corporate lobbies trying to buy up our communities and sell them to us. We all know why we’re here.”
Bowman has also stated that he is not concerned about the substantial sums of money being funneled to assist in his removal from office. “AIPAC is scared to death,” he insisted.
He went on to say, “That is why they are spending record amounts of money in this race. They are afraid. They have already lost.”
Bowman, who has been advocating for a ceasefire in Gaza, declared, "Our movement is stronger than their money."
“Our people are more powerful than their power. It is time for us to show them the real power of the people. We’re going to show them how mighty we are,” he further added.
Bernie Sanders referred to the Bowman-Latimer election as 'one of the most important'
Later, he erupted into a profanity-filled tirade against his detractors, yelling and jumping around and declaring, "We are gonna show them who the f**k we are! We are gonna show them who the f**k were!”
He went as far as grabbing a stool from the stage and waving it, urging the audience to chant "Ceasefire now." Sanders described the Bowman-Latimer contest as "one of the most significant" elections in American history.
“This election is not about Jamaal vs Mr Latimer, this election is about whether or not the billionaire class and the oligarchs will control the United States government. And I look to you to know they won’t,” he said.
Recent polls indicate Bowman is significantly behind Latimer by double digits in the district, which spans from Co-Op City in the Bronx to some of the most affluent areas in Westchester.
Jamaal Bowman faces criticism for prioritizing far-left policies over constituents' needs
Bowman faced criticism for prioritizing far-left policies over the needs of his constituents even before the Israel-Hamas conflict erupted.
His opposition to Biden’s infrastructure bill, stemming from concerns that it disproportionately benefited white people, has become a significant issue in the campaign.
Additionally, he has been ridiculed for triggering a fire alarm during a vote on government funding last year. Bowman has supported ceasefire proposals that would keep Hamas in power and has openly campaigned with activists who have praised the attacks.
While Bowman has received endorsements from his fellow "squad" members, Latimer has secured endorsements from figures such as former Democratic presidential nominee and US Senator Hillary Clinton, along with numerous moderate local legislators.
Both candidates have garnered mixed reactions from the locals, often met with a Bronx cheer.
“Bernie Sanders is a socialist. AOC doesn’t love America and Biden is terrible. These guys are not for America,” said an area resident named Sean.
Public reaction to the news spurs criticism online
Upon surfacing on the internet, users immediately began reacting to the news. One comment read, "They have always been fraudulent."
Another user added, "They are sellouts."
A commentator wrote, "Don’t listen to them all they do is commit crimes."
"We all know the truth. They're equally despicable," a person said.
This article contains remarks made on the Internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online.
