NEW YORK (BLOOMBERG) -- Democratic Congressional candidate Darializa Avila Chevalier from New York City was arrested along with local lawmakers at a protest outside the United Nations against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Avila Chevalier was charged with disorderly conduct, according to the NYPD.
Protesters assembled in midtown Manhattan as Netanyahu addressed the UN general assembly. He used parts of his speech to criticize Mayor Zohran Mamdani, who has called for Netanyahu’s arrest for war crimes and described him as an architect of genocide.
Pro-Palestinian demonstrators block First Avenue near the United Nations on Sept. 24, 2026.CHARLY TRIBALLEAU / AFP via Getty Images
“Accusing Israel of genocide is the greatest lie of the century,” Netanyahu said in his speech. “So to all those that are spreading these lies about my country and about our brave soldiers, whether they sit in this hall or in the office of the antisemitic mayor of new York, I say this, shame on you.” He added that since Mamdani was elected Mayor, many Jews no longer feel safe in the city.
A Mamdani ally, Avila Chevalier won the primary in June against incumbent Adriano Espaillat for the congressional district including parts of Harlem and the Bronx.
“Netanyahu belongs at the Hague: not in the streets of New York City, and certainly not addressing the United Nations General Assembly,” she said in a statement after her arrest.
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