Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer was booed by a crowd while speaking at an Israeli parade in New York City on Sunday. The video footage posted on X showed him being introduced to speak in front of a crowd of people holding signs with pictures of Hamas-held hostages and slogans like “Bring Them Home,” according to Newsweek [1]. In October 2023, Hamas, a U.S. designated Islamic terror group, attacked Israel, killing 1200 people, and taking more than two hundred fifty people hostage. While some of the hostages have been released, it is believed that there are still roughly 130 people being held by Hamas. Out of these, it is believed that 40 are dead while 60 are still alive.
The Israeli Day Parade.
Democratic Senator Chuck Schumer was met with boos while delivering a speech.For licensing, please contact [email protected] pic.twitter.com/yvlw4xfBiY [2]
— Viral News NYC (@ViralNewsNYC) June 2, 2024 [3]
Schumer, who is Jewish, faced criticism in May when he stayed silent on the anti-Israel protests and encampments that were established on college and university campuses throughout the month of April and early May. Pro-Israeli protesters described him as a “traitor” and called for him to resign after he expressed “faith” in Joe Biden, stating he would withhold artillery and weapons from Israel if they moved forward with an invasion of Rafah, Hamas’s last stronghold.
Schumer had earlier called for Israel to hold new elections to replace Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, saying that he had “lost his way.”
US Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer:
“The fourth major OBSTACLE TO PEACE, is Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin NETANYAHU. I also believe Prime Netanyahu has LOST HIS WAY..I believe that a new election is the only way…”pic.twitter.com/AETy5R7Vic [4] https://t.co/g2wyDY4z2B [5]
— أبو عمّار (@MaajidNawaz) March 15, 2024 [6]
Despite his criticism of Israel, Schumer signed a letter in support of inviting Netanyahu to speak before a “joint meeting of Congress,” along with House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA), Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY), and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY). At the parade, Schumer repeated the slogan “Bring them home” several times as the crowd booed.