A pro-Palestinian protester crashed the beginning of Democrat Tom Suozzi’s victory speech, accusing the representative-elect of “supporting genocide”.
Suozzi, 61, won a critical US congressional district in New York, which was left empty after Republican Congressman George Santos was expelled last December after allegations of fraud.
However, his celebratory speech was cut short when a protestor stormed onto the stage, wielding a Palestinian flag.
“You can’t hide, you’re supporting genocide! Stop supporting genocide,” they yelled.
Democrat Tom Suozzi was celebrating his defeat against rival Mazi Pilip when a pro-Palestine protester stormed the stage
Reuters/Twitter
The newly elected lawmaker continued to smile at the crowds, whilst a voice in the audience boomed: “Genocide! You support genocide! Cease-fire now, cease-fire now!”
The demonstrator was then removed by security, who appeared to push him off the stage, and crowds chanted “Suozzi! Suozzi” amid the commotion.
Acknowledging the disruption, Suozzi said: “There are divisions in our country where people can’t even talk to each other. All they can do is yell and scream at each other.
“That’s not the answer to the problems we face in our country. The answer is to try and bring people together to try and find common ground.”
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Suozzi’s resounding victory over rival Mazi Pilip defied polls that had projected the race would be close
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“The way to make our country a better place is to try and find common ground. It is not easy to do. It is hard to do,” Suozzi added later, reported by the Associated Press.
Suozzi’s resounding victory over rival Mazi Pilip defied polls that had projected the race would be neck and neck.
CBS reported that with 87 per cent of the estimated vote tallied Suozzi had 54 per cent, while Pilip had 45 per cent.
Suozzi had represented the Long Island district for six years before unsuccessfully running for governor in 2022. He was then replaced by Santos.
Suozzi had represented the Long Island district for six years before unsuccessfully running for governor in 2022
Reuters
During the race, Suozzi had attempted to link Pilip to Santos and former President Donald Trump.
Pilip, an Ethiopian Jew who fled to Israel at age 12 to escape persecution, tried to associate Suozzi to President Biden and the immigration crisis.
Suozzi had also declared himself a staunch ally of Israel, arguing that he would try to offset left-wing Democrats who want to slash US aid to Tel Aviv.
This result reduces the Republican House majority to 219-213.