Darializa Avila Chevalier, a socialist candidate for the House of Representatives in New York, was arrested on Thursday while protesting against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s presence in New York City during the United Nations General Assembly. This information comes from her campaign’s social media and various media reports.
Avila Chevalier, the Democratic nominee for the 13th Congressional District, was among a group of demonstrators taken into custody after blocking a roadway near the UN meeting, where Netanyahu was scheduled to speak.
“Darializa was just arrested while peacefully protesting Netanyahu’s speech at the United Nations,” her campaign announced on social media.
She expressed her stance, saying, “Our government has unlimited funds to arm a genocide against Palestinians but tells us there’s nothing left to feed and house our own people. Stop arming Israel!”
The protest Avila Chevalier attended saw about 250 participants gathering at the intersection of 1st Avenue and 39th Street in Manhattan. The police began making arrests after some protesters sitting in the street refused to leave.
Post-arrest, she stood by her actions, asserting that “Netanyahu belongs at the Hague, not in the streets of New York City, and certainly not addressing the United Nations General Assembly,” according to a report.
She wasn’t alone in her arrest. City Council members Chi Ossé and Alexa Avilés were also taken into custody during the protest, and reports indicated that actress Susan Sarandon was among those detained as well. Around 80 to 100 protesters reportedly faced arrest for noncompliance with police orders.
At just 32, Avila Chevalier previously achieved a notable Democratic primary victory in June, defeating five-term incumbent Rep. Adriano Espaillat in a district that strongly favors Democrats, including parts of Upper Manhattan and the Bronx.
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani endorsed her in late May, lauding her dedication to working-class residents and expressing eagerness to collaborate on their affordability goals.
She is affiliated with the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) and gained support from the NYC chapter during her campaign. Avila Chevalier has also been recognized as a prominent pro-Palestinian activist, having led anti-Israel protests at Columbia University and playing a role in launching the Columbia University Apartheid Divest’s boycott, divestment, and sanctions initiative, which received scrutiny for extreme social media posts in the past.
Fox News Digital reached out to her campaign for more details about the arrest but had not received a response right away. The NYPD referred inquiries back to their public information office without sharing further specifics.
