Activist Susan Abulhawa recently posted comments on social media that derided Jewish people for referencing the Holocaust, stating that the event has "lost its meaning." These remarks came in response to criticism directed at Mayor Zohran Mamdani regarding the composition of his 18-member judicial screening panel, which reportedly did not include any Jewish members.
Abulhawa, in a statement on X on July 31, wrote that "Europe's holocaust has lost its meaning to the point that the whole world is sick of hearing about it." She further stated, "These clowns invoke that genocide with every perceived slight (even as they are committing or supporting a contemporary genocide)." She also asserted that "there is an extreme overrepresentation of Jews in every branch of government, media, and culture," yet "we have to listen to more holocaust whining because ONE damn judicial panel didn’t contain enough Jews."
Abulhawa also issued a warning, suggesting that if Jews do not moderate their criticism of Mamdani, "it's not going to end well for anyone."
This is not the first time Abulhawa has drawn attention for her statements. She has previously described Jewish people with terms such as "vampires," "demons," and "ghouls" and has celebrated the Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israel. First Lady Rama Duwaji, Mamdani’s wife, created artwork for an essay book compiled by Abulhawa. The artwork served as the lead graphic for an essay titled "A Trail of Soap," published in the Slow Factory's Everything Is Political magazine.
Online reactions to Abulhawa's statements and her past collaboration with Duwaji have emerged, with some users questioning the connection between the first lady and the activist's remarks. Representatives for Duwaji and Mamdani did not immediately respond to requests for comment.