Democratic Congressional Candidate Arrested Protesting Netanyahu at UN

Darializa Avila Chevalier, the Democratic nominee for New York’s 13th Congressional District, was arrested on Thursday during a protest outside the United Nations as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu prepared to deliver remarks. Chevalier was among at least 30 individuals detained by police during the demonstration, which was organized by progressive groups including Jewish Voice for Peace.

The protesters blocked a roadway near the UN headquarters, chanting against the war in Gaza and demanding an end to U.S. support for Israel. Demonstrators argued that the conflict was an issue of American responsibility due to taxpayer funding for Israel.

Chevalier, a self-described Democratic Socialist and pro-Palestinian activist, stated in a first-person account for The Guardian that her arrest was an act of political resistance against the U.S. funding Israel. "As the Democratic nominee for New York’s 13th congressional district, I refuse to allow a war criminal to roam the streets of our city unchallenged," she wrote. "I refuse to play host to a man who has overseen the slaughter or injury of more than 64,000 children with American taxpayer dollars."

She accused Netanyahu and the Israeli government of responsibility for the conditions in Gaza, using the term 'genocide,' and condemned U.S. military support for Israel, asserting that the U.S. was "shielding Netanyahu from prosecution." The International Criminal Court has issued an arrest warrant for Netanyahu alleging war crimes and crimes against humanity related to the Gaza conflict, allegations that Netanyahu and Israeli officials have rejected.

Oscar-winning actress Susan Sarandon, New York City Council member Chi Ossé, and whistleblower Chelsea Manning were also among those detained. Chi Ossé told PIX 11, "I'm sick and tired of my taxpayer dollars going towards an active genocide."

Chevalier's arrest occurs amid a significant ideological struggle within the Democratic Party. She defeated five-term incumbent Adriano Espaillat in the Democratic primary for the heavily Democratic 13th District. Her campaign has focused on themes of Democratic Socialism, opposition to U.S. military intervention, and a reallocation of government resources towards domestic programs like housing and healthcare.

Chevalier has previously drawn scrutiny for past social media posts, including those advocating for the abolition of borders and controversial remarks on race and relationships. Her political stances have been a point of contention, with some Republicans seeking to portray her as emblematic of a leftward shift in the Democratic Party.

Chevalier framed her candidacy as part of a broader movement challenging U.S. involvement in overseas conflicts, arguing that government resources should instead be directed toward domestic needs. In her account of the protest, she invoked Martin Luther King Jr.’s opposition to excessive military spending and presented her campaign as a challenge to what she calls the American "insatiable war machine."