On Tuesday, Representative Jamaal Bowman of New York, a member of the progressive “Squad” known for his history of anti-Israel voting, made a statement regarding the resignation of Harvard University president Claudine Gay. He asserted that her departure had nothing to do with allegations of being lenient on anti-Semitism or plagiarism from other scholars.
Bowman emphasized, “This isn’t related to accusations of plagiarism or anti-Semitism. It’s about racism and intimidation, and it doesn’t contribute to anyone’s safety.” He contended that the only beneficiaries of her resignation were those who had pressured an accomplished and historic Black woman into stepping down, characterizing the upcoming 2024 battle as one for truth, democracy, and shared humanity.
Rep. Jamaal Bowman has a well-documented history of voting against Israel and voicing criticism of the Jewish state. For instance, when the U.S. House of Representatives censured Rep. Rashida Tlaib for her comments about the destruction of Israel, Bowman argued that Republicans lacked the diversity needed to understand the perspective of the only Palestinian-American in Congress.
Moreover, he was one of the ten House members who voted against a resolution expressing solidarity with Israel during its conflict with Hamas. Bowman also co-signed a resolution calling for an immediate ceasefire in Israel and occupied Palestine.
Additionally, he voted against a resolution affirming that Israel is not a racist or apartheid state and, along with six other House Democrats, boycotted Israeli President Isaac Herzog’s congressional address. Bowman has accused Israel of genocide, made statements comparing Republicans to Nazis, called for U.S. recognition of the Palestinian “nakba,” and advocated for restricting U.S. aid to Israel.
