Candidacy and Controversy
A far-left candidate running for office, who is backed by Mayor Zoran Mamdani, has endorsed a particularly unusual theory regarding the origins of COVID-19, suggesting it first emerged in France. She referenced the Chinese Communist Party’s narratives as her source.
Candidate Daria Lisa Avila Chevalier shared this odd assertion in a tweet from 2020, citing an organization known as Ciao Collective, which has been characterized as part of China’s propaganda efforts.
In her tweet from May 10, 2020, she provocatively noted, “So it was PoC again who intervened and stopped the spread of a European disease? That’s amazing. Shocking,” clearly referring to “people of color.”
On the same day, Qiao, associated with the collective, claimed that “French hospitals confirmed that the new coronavirus infection occurred in France in November, one month before China.”
The Ciao Collective describes itself as a “grassroots media organization of Chinese diaspora writers, artists, and researchers” aiming to challenge the prevailing narratives in Western media concerning China. Their mission includes bridging U.S. leftist perspectives with Marxist thought from China.
Despite its assertions, the “France First” theory is largely dismissed by the scientific community.
There is substantial agreement among scientists and intelligence officials that the novel coronavirus’s origins trace back to Wuhan, China, likely linked to a market or laboratory in the area.
Avila Chevalier, who is 32, is campaigning to unseat incumbent Rep. Adriano Espaillat in the 13th Congressional District, encompassing Northern Manhattan and parts of the Bronx, and is receiving support from both Mamdani and the Democratic Socialists of America.
State Democratic Party Chairman Jay Jacobs, who backs Espaillat, expressed concern about Avila Chevalier’s COVID-19 conspiracy claims, stating she seems unprepared for a prominent role. “These are serious times. We need serious people,” he remarked, emphasizing Espaillat’s commitment to public service.
Jacobs noted it was “nonsensical” for politicians like Mamdani not to support Espaillat, who has been a notable figure in Congress.
The news of Avila Chevalier’s promotion of CCP propaganda comes amidst the party’s expanding influence in New York City and across the U.S., facilitated by a network of sympathizers and affiliates.
There hasn’t been a response from Avila Chevalier’s campaign regarding this issue.
She has already found herself defending tweets from the past five years that were highlighted by Espaillat in her campaign, which included some controversial remarks about certain demographics. In remarks regarding former Vice President Kamala Harris, she stated, “I have no nuance to add. Ms. Kamala Harris.”
On former President Joe Biden, she commented, “I would never give a vote to a rapist,” alluding to unresolved allegations from a former aide, which Biden has denied.
Additionally, Avila Chevalier has made light of disrespecting the American flag in a now-deleted post, humorously suggesting, “I forgot to buy napkins,” and joking about wiping her hands on the flag, ending with a smiling emoji.
