Pro-Palestinian protesters in New York handed $9m in funding from taxpayers
Pro-Palestinian protesters in New York handed $9m in funding from taxpayers
Reuters
New York taxpayers have been forced to dish out nearly $9million (£7.3million) over the last decade to pro-Palestinian demonstrators, city records have shown.
Over $3.3million (£2.66million) has reportedly been awarded in the last two years alone to four nonprofit groups that openly cheered over Hamas’ terrorist attacks on October 7.
Nearly half the total funds were funnelled through yearly pots that City Council members use to sway votes during re-election bids.
According to the New York Post, nearly $2million (£1.62million) of the Council’s “discretionary funds” were given to anti-Israeli groups following the November 2021 general election where new far-left members were added to the legislative body.
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The remaining half of the $9million was paid through government contracts.
The majority of taxpayers' money was awarded to The Arab American Association of New York which planned the “Flood Brooklyn for Palestine” protest on October 21.
The group received around $6.8million in so-called pork barrel contracts meant to help raise local support for City Council members.
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The majority of taxpayers' money was awarded to The Arab American Association of New York
Reuters
Money was reportedly given for criminal justice services, adult literacy programmes and mental health aid.
Funding for the Arab American Association was almost pulled back in 2015 following the posting of an image to social media showing a Palestinian boy clutching a rock in front of Israeli soldiers which the group hailed as “the definition of courage”.
Ex-Councilman Rory Lancman who clashed with the group’s former leader Linda Sarsour over the post, accepted that it would have been unfair to have punished the group for the behaviour of their executive director.
However, he said he had zero tolerance for groups that collect taxpayer money and support “hateful conduct”.
'It becomes unacceptable for the government and taxpayers to be subsidizing that hate,' Lancman said
Reuters
“You reach a point where it becomes unacceptable for the government to be funding that mission,” Lancman told The Post.
“It becomes unacceptable for the government and taxpayers to be subsidizing that hate.”
Executive of pro-Israel group New York Solidarity Network, Sara Forman, said politicians need to think before awarding money to such groups.
“Any group that’s taking taxpayer money shouldn’t be advancing anti-Jewish hate speech or excusing anti-Jewish violence,” said Forman.
“Elected officials going forward need to think long and hard before they reward taxpayer money to these groups who knowingly ally with organizations that have extremist agendas and extreme political views.”
Other winners of taxpayer funds include the Muslim American Society of New York, the Desis Rising Up and Moving, and the Tides Center.
Liz Garcia, a spokeswoman for New York Mayor Eric Adams, defended the contracts with the four nonprofits as providing essential services for New Yorkers.
“Mayor Adams has been clear that New York City stands against terror and hate,” she said.
“We will continue to carefully consider the integrity of the city’s partner organizations, as we currently do.”