New York Assembly Member Brian Cunningham, whose district includes Crown Heights, has withdrawn his support of a fellow democratic candidate for congress after she announced her support of BDS.
By Anash.org reporter
New York Assembly Member Brian Cunningham, whose district includes Crown Heights, has withdrawn his support of a fellow democratic candidate for congress after she announced her support of BDS, the boycott, divestment, and sanctions movement against Israel.
Yuh-Line Niou, a progressive assemblywoman from Manhattan, came under fire Monday after she said in an interview with Jewish Insider that she supports BDS, an antisemitic movement aimed at delegitimizing Jews and Israel.
Niou is one of more than a dozen candidates for the open seat in New York’s redrawn 10th District and is backed by the Working Families Party. She is among the most prominent progressives in Albany, and has quickly established herself as one of the top candidates of choice for left-leaning Democrats in the crowded primary for New York’s 10th District.
Cunningham, who represents a Brooklyn district that includes much of Crown Heights, endorsed Yuh-Line Niou in May but withdrew his endorsement Monday after the story broke.
Cunningham won the special election for Assembly District 43 in Central Brooklyn in March. He received the highly sought-after endorsement of Crown Heights United, earning him hundreds of Jewish votes.
In a statement to Anash.org, the assemblyman said “I have traveled to Israel and seen firsthand the realities on the ground. I unequivocally oppose the BDS movement, and all that it stands for. I will not support a candidate that fails to recognize Israel’s right to exist by endorsing a movement that seeks to destroy our democratic ally Israel. I am therefore withdrawing my endorsement of YLN.”
Former mayor of New York City Bill de Blasio who is now running for the same Congressional District also spoke out against a Democratic primary rival who expressed support for BDS.
For his part, de Blasio, 61, has drawn some scrutiny from pro-Israel advocates for comments in which the ex-mayor denounced AIPAC because the lobbying group had opposed a friend and fellow progressive Democrat.
The ex-mayor’s remarks were a sharp turn away from previous instances in which he has defended AIPAC, made public appearances at AIPAC events and spoken at its policy conference. De Blasio has long identified as a staunch supporter of Israel and has maintained close ties to Jewish community members in New York City throughout his decades-long career in politics.
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