Queens Borough President Donovan Richards has accused the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) of exhibiting white supremacy, fueling a growing rift within the Democratic Party that has spilled onto social media.
Richards targeted the DSA, and specifically Mayor Zohran Mamdani's affiliation with the group, alleging that the organization ignores race in its pursuit of expanding its membership and dismantling capitalism. "White supremacy comes in all forms," Richards posted on social media Sunday.
The heightened criticism follows a New York Times report detailing how the far-left wing of the Democratic Party, including the DSA, allegedly prioritizes its agenda and overlooks issues important to Black and Latino members in New York City.
While the DSA has supported minority candidates, including U.S. Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who is Latina, and Mamdani, who is of Ugandan descent, the group's membership is overwhelmingly white. A 2021 survey indicated that 85% of DSA members are white.
Insiders have also claimed that the DSA has a history of parachuting its candidates into vulnerable districts rather than cultivating local talent. Richards amplified his accusation by sharing a quote from Malcolm X that described white liberals as "dangerous foxes."