Full Breakdown
Darializa Avila Chevalier Defends Pro-Palestinian Rally Attendance and Calls for a One-State Solution
7/11/2026, 10:05:48 PM
Primary Controversy: Rally Attendance and Israel Stance
Democratic candidate Darializa Avila Chevalier faced intense scrutiny after attending a pro-Palestinian rally on Oct. 8, 2023, the day after Hamas’ Oct. 7 attacks on Israel. In a wide-ranging Zoom interview with progressive Jewish author and CUNY journalism professor Peter Beinart, she reiterated that “the targeting of civilians is wrong in any context, including on Oct. 7,” while arguing that U.S. tax dollars fund “an American war machine, the Israeli war machine” that could instead support domestic communities. Avila Chevalier also advocated a one-state solution, describing it as “one governing body, one state that sees everyone as equal before the law, regardless of race, religion, identity, ethnicity.”
Background & Campaign Context
Avila Chevalier, a democratic socialist who organized pro-Palestinian encampments at Columbia University, unseated incumbent Rep. Adriano Espaillat in the June 2024 Democratic primary for New York’s 13th Congressional District, covering Upper Manhattan and the Bronx. Her victory joined those of two other progressive, Israel-critical candidates backed by New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, signaling a shift toward left-leaning representation in deeply Democratic districts.
Official Statements & Responses
During the interview, Avila Chevalier emphasized “what matters is international law, and what international law condemns and protects,” asserting that it condemns civilian targeting while protecting the right to resist. She stopped short of labeling Zionism as racism, describing it as “an ideology that creates this type of hierarchy” and rejecting any hierarchy among peoples. Peter Beinart challenged her, noting the lack of explicit international-law references on rally signs and questioning whether she was uncomfortable with such slogans.
Criticism & Opposition
Veteran peace activist Hillel Schenker characterized Avila Chevalier as “well-intentioned, but also clearly is not familiar with the nature of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.” Other participants in the Zoom call expressed unease, with one attendee stating that many comments were dismissive of her human-rights approach.
Verbatim Quotes
- “I think the targeting of civilians is wrong in any context, including on Oct. 7,” — Darializa Avila Chevalier
- “I think what matters is international law, and what international law condemns and protects,” — Darializa Avila Chevalier
- “I think there is a war machine that is insatiable,” — Darializa Avila Chevalier
- “We have seen over the course of history that attempts at two states have failed, and even so, I think in this question of like, well, do we partition to begin with, that inherently is divisive,” — Darializa Avila Chevalier
- “Zionism is an ideology that creates this type of hierarchy that I’m talking about, and I just don’t believe that we should be striving for a world where there is a hierarchy among people,” — Darializa Avila Chevalier
