NY Candidate Deletes Posts Calling for Police Abolition

A Democratic congressional candidate in New York has deleted thousands of social media posts that advocated for abolishing police, prisons, and borders, as well as seizing private property and nationalizing industries. The posts, which also questioned Israel's right to exist, have become a focal point in a primary race seen as a proxy battle within the Democratic Party.

Darializa Avila Chevalier, a 32-year-old investigator at a public defender's office and doctoral student, is challenging longtime Democratic Rep. Adriano Espaillat in New York's 13th Congressional District. Her campaign gained significant attention after receiving an endorsement from New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani.

A review of archived posts from a Twitter account Chevalier has since deleted revealed the extent of her past statements. The posts, made between 2018 and 2022, included calls for a world without borders, prisons, or police. One repost from August 2020 stated, "Trick question Israel doesn't exist!" in response to a social media prompt. Other posts advocated for "seizing the means of production," nationalizing major industries like utilities and hospitals, and seizing property from landlords.