Accusations of Silencing in Albany Hearing
A Jewish representative from Long Island is claiming that his colleague, Rep. Paul, attempted to silence him when he raised concerns about anti-Semitism involving New York City Mayor Zoran Mamdani during a recent meeting in Albany.
Rep. Ali Brown, a Republican, expressed to the Post that his “pure communist” colleagues are trying to show Mamdani their disdain for the Jewish community.
“They silenced me when I sought answers regarding the rising hatred towards the Jewish community,” he stated.
“It’s essential for every New Yorker to recognize just how perilous the situation is.”
Brown had utilized his time to confront Mayor Mamdani, a democratic socialist, about a striking 182% increase in anti-Semitic incidents in New York City during the mayor’s first month in office. He criticized Mamdani for failing to unambiguously denounce the phrase “globalization of the intifada,” which many see as inciting violence against Jews.
However, as Brown pressed the mayor, his fellow legislator, Rep. Gary Pretlow (D-Mount Vernon), issued a warning to Republicans: “Don’t continue—this is a budget hearing. Please maintain respect for the mayor.” Subsequently, Brown’s microphone and speaking time were cut off.
“This is intimidation, not a debate. They aim to silence me,” said Brown, asserting he is the first Republican in New York’s history to wear a yarmulke and be elected to the state Legislature.
He further claimed that nearly half of his Democratic colleagues are scared of facing primary challengers and, as a result, are targeting the state’s most conservative politician.
“They want to demonstrate to Mamdani that they despise Jews because he wields influence over them,” he added. “Some of them are essentially pure communists.”
Brown argued, “No matter how left they go, there’s always a more radical faction ready to support them, which leads them to align and suppress anyone who questions their agenda.”
He even quoted Ronald Reagan, who said, “Communism only works insofar as it can compel people to submit.”
“When microphones are muted in a Congressional hearing without answering critical questions, it shifts from a historical warning to a reality we face today,” Brown remarked.
Rep. Elise Stefanik, another Republican from upstate, criticized the New York Socialist Democratic Party’s “unprecedented power grab,” stating, “Welcome to a one-party socialist government in New York…where legislators cannot pose important questions on behalf of their constituents.”
She continued, “This aggressive move has muzzled discussions about the vital issue of anti-Semitism that the new mayor supports and finances. If we don’t establish boundaries now, anti-Semitic socialists will silence us.”
Requests for comments from both Pretlow and Mamdani went unanswered.
