Brad Lander Confronted by Protesters at New York RSS Rally

On Saturday, Brad Lander – the Democratic nominee for New York’s 10th congressional district – attended a rally at Madison Square Garden organized by the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) that featured its chief Mohan Bhagwat. Lander, who identifies as a liberal Zionist and a vocal critic of Israel’s actions in Gaza, responded calmly, saying “Bring it on” before shaking hands with supportive attendees.

The Guardian

The protest was framed as a stand against the persecution of religious minorities in India. Lander’s presence was intended to signal solidarity with groups opposing hate, both in the United States and abroad. His platform includes calling Israel’s Gaza campaign a genocide and supporting restrictions on U.S. military aid to Israel.

CNN

• Brad Lander – Democratic congressional candidate for New York’s 10th district; former New York City comptroller.

Antisemitic Abuse Hurled at Jewish Congressional Candidate Outside Madison Square Garden

• Mohan Bhagwat – Leader of the Hindu nationalist RSS movement.

The Guardian

• Indian American Muslim Council (IAMC) – Issued a statement apologizing for the treatment of Lander.

CNN

• Hindus for Human Rights – Praised Lander as a progressive voice against the RSS.

CNN

• Peter Beinart – Liberal commentator who argued the protesters’ abuse targeted Lander’s Zionism, not his Jewish identity.

The Guardian

• Saturday – Lander attends RSS rally; verbal abuse erupts; Lander replies “Bring it on.”

The Guardian

• Sunday – Lander posts a video on X, reiterating his support for the event’s anti-persecution purpose.

The Guardian

• Monday – Lander shares a statement on X emphasizing his commitment to joining rallies against hate.

CNN

• More than 70,000 people have been reported killed in Gaza since the war began.

CNN

• In the June primary, Lander defeated incumbent Dan Goldman, a fellow Jewish Zionist, in a race shaped by differing stances on Israel.

CNN

• Lander’s statement: “Yesterday’s event was dedicated to standing up against the persecution of religious minorities. I was honored to be invited and glad to participate.” (CNN)

CNN

Video footage captured protesters shouting anti-Zionist slurs, while other attendees defended Lander, shaking his hand and thanking him for his solidarity. One participant wearing a keffiyeh pointed at Lander and repeated “No Zionists, no Zionists.” Commentator Peter Beinart described the atmosphere as “rude, obnoxious, self-righteous.”

The Guardian

• Nature of the Abuse: The Guardian noted some commentary suggested antisemitism because Lander is Jewish. Beinart countered that the protesters objected specifically to Lander’s self-declared Zionism, emphasizing that “the term antisemite should be reserved for clear cases in which people have an animus towards Jews as Jews.”

The GuardianCNN

• Motivation Attribution: Sources differ on whether the heckling stemmed from opposition to Israel’s policies, anti-Zionist sentiment, or broader anti-hate activism, leaving the precise motive ambiguous.

The Guardian

• “The term antisemite should be reserved for clear cases in which people have an animus towards Jews as Jews.” — Peter Beinart

The Guardian

• “Yesterday’s event was dedicated to standing up against the persecution of religious minorities. I was honored to be invited and glad to participate,” — Brad Lander

CNN

The incident illustrates the growing polarization within the Democratic Party over Israel-Palestine policy and highlights how debates over Zionism intersect with anti-hate activism in the United States, underscoring the challenges progressive candidates face when navigating criticism from both pro-Israel and anti-Zionist constituencies.

The Guardian