Latest Mamdani Pick Said Woman Destroying Hostage Posters Was "Hero"

New York mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani is facing renewed scrutiny after it emerged that one of the members of his inaugural committee previously praised individuals who tore down posters of Israeli hostages in New York City.

Alvaro Lopez, a Democratic Socialists of America electoral organizer selected for the committee, was identified as the author of a now-deleted social media post from November 2023 in which he described two women caught ripping down Israeli hostage posters on the Upper West Side as “heroes.” The incident drew national attention at the time after video footage showed the women cursing at passersby who challenged them, including one who shouted “f–k Israel.”

Lopez’s past comments extend beyond that episode. In the weeks following the October 7 Hamas attack on Israel, he publicly accused Congressman Ritchie Torres of having “Palestinian children’s blood on your hands,” while also suggesting the lawmaker was acting on behalf of pro-Israel advocacy groups. Those posts were later removed.

When asked about the hostage poster comment, Lopez told the New York Post that he did not remember writing it and suggested he may have been referring to the people depicted on the posters rather than those tearing them down. He described the period following October 7 as “a really chaotic time.”

Lopez is not the only controversial figure tied to Mamdani’s transition and inaugural efforts. The mayor-elect, himself a member of the Democratic Socialists of America, has drawn criticism for assembling a committee that includes several outspoken anti-Israel activists. Among them is children’s media personality Rachel Griffin Accurso, known as Ms. Rachel, who has previously collaborated with figures accused of promoting antisemitic rhetoric online. Critics have accused her of echoing Hamas-aligned narratives while failing to address Israeli victims of the October 7 attacks.

Also named to the committee is Beth Miller, a senior figure at Jewish Voice for Peace, who has accused Israel’s government of planning war crimes in Gaza. Separately, Mamdani’s transition team was recently forced to distance itself from Catherine Almonte Da Costa, his former head of appointments, who resigned after past antisemitic social media posts referring to “money hungry Jews” resurfaced.

Mamdani has defended his appointments as reflective of his political values and coalition, but Jewish organizations and watchdog groups argue the pattern points to a deeper tolerance for antisemitic rhetoric within his circle. With his inauguration approaching, the controversy is adding early pressure to an administration that has yet to take office, raising questions about how Mamdani plans to address antisemitism in a city already grappling with rising tensions.