A Disturbing Show of Solidarity

June 2, 2026 - White Plains, NY, June 2, 2026 - White Plains, NY, June 2, 2026 — Westchester Progressives is profoundly disappointed that local elected officials, including Congressman Mike Lawler, Democratic mayors Justin Brasch of White Plains and Mike Spano of Yonkers, and Democratic Assemblywoman Amy Paulin joined high-level Democrats Governor Kathy Hochul and Senator Chuck Schumer in marching in Sunday's Israel Day Parade.

At a time when Israel's government is carrying out a devastating war in Gaza, expanding settlements in the occupied West Bank, and facing allegations of war crimes before the International Criminal Court, no American elected official should be celebrating or expressing solidarity with that government.

Westchester Progressives is a grassroots organization dedicated to economic justice, civil rights, and human dignity. We support every individual's right to free expression, but we also believe elected officials must be held accountable for the causes and governments they choose to publicly endorse.

Although Governor Hochul and Senator Schumer have since sought to distance themselves from Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, who has advocated genocide and ethnic cleansing of Palestinians from Gaza and the West Bank, the appearance of far-right ministers at the parade were not an aberration. They are part of the governing coalition and emblematic of the government's agenda. Elected officials cannot credibly condemn these extremists while simultaneously participating in an event celebrating the government they help lead.

New Yorkers deserve leaders who stand for human rights and international law, not leaders who march in support of a government accused of violating them.