Latest news with #anti-Israel
New York Post
3 hours ago
- Politics
- New York Post
‘Mayor Mamdani' is NOT a done deal — these voters hold the key
Forget Miami Beach — think Cleveland as your escape route from life in New York City under a Mayor Zohran Mamdani. That's the pitch from Vivek Ramaswamy, running to be the next governor of Ohio. He's put up a billboard in Times Square wooing frightened New Yorkers to the Buckeye State. Take a deep breath, New Yorkers. We don't need Ohio as our Mamdani emergency exit. The best remedy is to turn out and vote in November. Many New Yorkers alarmed by Mamdani's Marxist convictions, defund-the-police history and anti-Israel rhetoric seem convinced he's impossible to beat. With so many general election candidates — Republican Curtis Sliwa, Mayor Eric Adams, former Gov. Andrew Cuomo and others — splitting the anti-Mamdani vote, the thinking goes, the socialist's victory is inevitable. That's wrong: Mamdani can be defeated by surging voter turnout, even if all the candidates stay in the race. A look at history proves it. In 1989, 60% of New York City's registered voters turned out for a hotly contested mayoral election, and four years later, turnout reached 57%. But in 2021, it sank to a pathetic 21%. It doesn't have to be that way. Mamdani understood that instead of fighting for the biggest share of a small number of voters, the way to win is to expand the electorate. For the June primary, he focused on voter registration: In the two weeks before the deadline, some 37,000 new voters joined the rolls, 10 times the usual number in that time period. Then, Mamdani's army of enthusiastic door-knockers helped drive the largest mayoral-primary turnout in New York's history. Beating Mamdani at his own game with aggressive field operations and voter-registration efforts is possible, even in a crowded field. Here's the math. If November's turnout increases to 50%, whichever candidate tops 582,330 votes — that's 50% of registered voters divided among the four candidates — wins. That number — 582,300 — is 120,000 more votes than Mamdani got in Round 1 of the primary. So he'd have a shot, but his victory would not be inevitable. Young voters were the lion's share of Mamdani's primary support, and they are notoriously unreliable: In 2021 almost half of primary voters ages 18 to 29, and a third of those between 30 and 39, failed to come back and cast ballots in the general election. With young voters, it's kiss and goodbye, while older primary voters reliably turn out to vote again in the general. Driving turnout to 60% — standard in the five boroughs in presidential election years — makes the minimum number of votes to win higher, and the prospect of beating Mamdani easier. Presidential-level turnout is a plausible goal, because Mamdani's upset victory in the Democratic primary is generating national press coverage and an epidemic of local angst — just what's needed to push people to the polls. Is surging turnout still possible with the election a mere four months away? Absolutely. Mamdani came from nowhere to triumph in the June primary. An Emerson College poll in late February put Cuomo in the lead with 33% of the vote, Adams with 10% and Mamdani barely registering with 1%. Four months later, he took 43.5% of the votes in the first round. Just as Mamdani went after the youth vote, his opponents need to analyze where the city's anyone-but-Mamdani voters are to be found. They should aim to drive up turnout among the 11% of registered New York City voters who are Republicans, the 20% who are independent, and most important, the 12% of Democrats I call the 'persuadable purples' — those unwilling to vote for a far-left candidate. In the 2024 presidential election, 573,618 Gotham Democrats who voted for Joe Biden in 2020 declined to follow the party's leftward lurch and support Kamala Harris in 2024. Some voted for Trump, but most sat out the election. Compare that number to the 462,966 Democrats who made Mamdani their first choice in the primary. The persuadable purples are numerous enough to turn November's election against the upstart, if they turn out and vote for anyone but him. After his stunning upset victory in the primary, Mamdani is racking up endorsements from politicians and labor unions, including SEIU and the New York State Nurses Association. But the unions' electoral pull is fading — and he's now under newly intense scrutiny to explain how he'll pay for free buses, free childcare and his other promises. Will his support grow, or did he peak on primary day? That's hard to say, with his heavy reliance on the fickle youth vote. One thing is certain: Defeating Mamdani is possible even in a crowded field, but it requires getting New Yorkers, lots of them, out to vote. Tell your friends and neighbors. Betsy McCaughey is a former lieutenant governor of New York and co-founder of the Committee to Save Our City. X: @Betsy_McCaughey.
Mint
9 hours ago
- Politics
- Mint
Indian student's US visa 'put on hold' for not disclosing Reddit account details: 'Officer raised a concern...'
Days after the US State Department directed all student visitors applying for F, M, or J non-immigrant visas to adjust the privacy settings on their social media accounts to 'public', a social media user has shared their ordeal online, claiming their application was 'put on hold' after they failed to disclose details about their Reddit account. "I had my F-1 visa interview recently. During the interview, the visa officer raised a concern about my Reddit account, which I had not listed on my DS-160 form," wrote the original poster on one of the visa-related subreddits. The user claimed their account was public and did not contain any offensive posts. "She mentioned that the account was not visible even though it was set to public, and at the end of the interview, she issued me a 221(g) slip requesting that I make all my social media handles public," the user explained. "My concern is that my account appeared private to her, even though it was already public. What if it's a technical issue that recurs when she rechecks my handle, which may lead to a refusal?" they added. Screengrab from the viral post, A 221(g) slip is issued when a visa application is temporarily placed on hold—not refused. Applicants are advised to respond promptly to any additional requests or documentation to avoid delays. Since 2019, US visa applicants have been subject to social media vetting. However, recent developments suggest that foreign nationals are now facing increased scrutiny. This heightened surveillance coincides with broader immigration enforcement measures introduced during the Trump administration, including ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) raids targeting undocumented migrants. The intensified monitoring also comes amid growing anti-Israel protests and opposition to ICE on US university campuses, particularly following government action against pro-Palestinian students. There is mounting concern that the administration is using social media activity to filter out applicants with dissenting views—especially those critical of US immigration policies or engaged in geopolitical discourse such as the Israel-Palestine conflict. Authorities appear to be closely examining individuals' cultural beliefs, political opinions, and any content perceived as 'radical.'
Toronto Sun
12 hours ago
- Politics
- Toronto Sun
KINSELLA: Flood of antisemitic hate seeping its way into Ontario schools
Report titled Antisemitism in Ontario's K-12 Schools details everything from Holocaust denial to harassment Some parents of TDSB middle school students are angered after learning their kids participated in a "field trip" to a political protest downtown that devolved into an anti-Israel demonstration on Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024. Photo by Supplied The worst places for the explosion in antisemitic hate? This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account The United States, and then Europe — unsurprising, given their relative populations. But the country that has had nearly as many antisemitic crimes as all of the rest of the world? Canada. Antisemitism — Jew hatred — has metastasized like a virus within this country. The statistics do not lie. Wherever one looks in Canada these days, antisemitism can be seen. In our streets, on our computer screens, in the media: The cancer of Jew hatred is ubiquitous in 2025. And, too often, those we entrust with authority — teachers, union leaders, politicians, police, prosecutors, media — seem to be completely indifferent to it. But there are grim consequences that flow from that indifference. Children, as any parents knows, are always watching. They observe grown-ups, they listen and they remember. And now Canadians children are clearly acting on what they have seen and heard elsewhere. Your noon-hour look at what's happening in Toronto and beyond. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. The Justin Trudeau Liberal government generally did an atrocious job combatting antisemitism. About that, there can be little debate. But a few days, ago, Mark Carney's Ottawa actually did something useful: It released a report titled Antisemitism in Ontario's K-12 Schools and — even in these dark days — it is a shocker. Read More Authored by respected University of Toronto professor Robert Brym, commissioned by the Office of the Special Envoy on Preserving Holocaust Remembrance and Combatting Antisemitism, the detailed report studied 'the prevalence, nature and impact of antisemitic incidents in elementary and secondary schools' across Canada's largest province. There was a lot of it. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Brym interviewed 600 parents and examined nearly 800 antisemitic incidents at Ontario schools between October 2023 — when Hamas and Gazans killed, wounded, raped or kidnapped thousands of people in Israel — and January. Among his findings: — 'Nearly one in six antisemitic incidents were initiated or approved by a teacher or involve a school-sanctioned activity.' — 'Just over two-thirds of antisemitic incidents occurred in English public schools … 14% of incidents occurred in French, Catholic and non-Jewish private schools.' — 'Nearly three-quarters of antisemitic incidents took place in the Toronto District School Board, the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board and the York Region District School Board.' This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. — '(Half) of antisemitic incidents reported to school authorities were not investigated. In another nearly 9% of cases, school authorities denied the incident was antisemitic or recommended that the victim be removed from the school.' — 'Because of antisemitic incidents experienced by their children, 16% of parents moved their children to another school or are considering doing so. Some moved houses to enrol their children in different schools.' RECOMMENDED VIDEO Jewish children described experiencing Holocaust denial, accusations that Jews have excessive wealth or power, were 'baby killers' and were told 'F— you, Jews,' 'Jews are vermin,' and, 'Jews are cheap.' Jewish kids reported being hit, pushed, threatened and spat on. Much of the time, Brym noted, children did not want their parents to do anything because they feared increased harassment or bullying. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. The Toronto District School Board had the worst of it by far with 40% of Jewish kids reporting being targeted with antisemitism. Its response to the problem? In the midst of that disturbing surge in Jew hatred, the TDSB shrugged — and sped up implementing a strategy to deal with what it called 'anti-Palestinian racism.' Meanwhile, the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board came second with a fifth of enrolled Jewish kids experiencing hate. While antisemitism was escalating at the OCDSB, it published a policy declaring that kids were permitted to wave Palestinian flags, wear keffiyehs, call for a 'free Palestine' and fundraise for anti-Israel causes. In an interview, Brym said: 'I was surprised by some results. For example, I was surprised that more than 40% of antisemitic incidents in Ontario's K-12 schools involve Nazi-inspired salutes, assertions that Hitler should have finished the job and the like.' Asked if school boards were doing enough to deal with antisemitism in their schools, Brym was unequivocal: 'Absolutely not.' Children aren't born hating. They have to be taught it. And in many Ontario school boards, they are learning their lessons too well. Uncategorized NHL NFL Editorials Editorial Cartoons
Business Recorder
13 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Business Recorder
‘Superman' applauded by netizens for being ‘anti-Israel'
Movie-goers are applauding director Tim Gunn for the subliminal messaging in 'Superman', where it supposedly depicts Israel's aggression in Gaza. The new Warner Bros film which opened this weekend in theatres, as already drawn plenty reactions about its storyline and how is it 'anti-Israel'. The plot depicts Superman (David Corenswet) having just prevented the fictional land of Boravia - an Eastern European country indicated by its Russian-speaking leaders and onion-domed buildings - from invading Jarhanpur, a country with a primarily brown-skinned population. New 'Superman' muscles to $217 million at global box office Although Gunn said he was not thinking of the Middle East when he wrote the film, the internet has been awash with comments with people comparing Boravia to Israel and Jarhanpur to Palestine. Some users point out that the images of Boravian soldiers in full military gear encroaching on a crowd of Jarhanpurian civilians brings to mind scenes of IDF soldiers invading civilian hospitals and schools in Gaza.
Perth Now
21 hours ago
- Politics
- Perth Now
Update on charged ex-Greens protester
Former Greens candidate Hannah Thomas will fight charges over an anti-Israel protest in Sydney that left her with a bloodied eye after police confirmed they were not dropping any further charges. The former Grayndler candidate was involved in a protest picketing SEC Plating in Belmore in Sydney's southwest on June 27 following reports the company provided jet components used by the Israel Defence Forces. Police issued a move-on order to about 60 people, but a scuffle broke out when some failed to comply with directions. Ms Thomas was later pictured with a swollen eye and dried blood on her face following the protest, claiming on social media that she may have suffered permanent vision damage and had undergone multiple surgeries. Former Greens candidate Hannah Thomas was charged over an anti-Israel protest in June. Supplied. Credit: Supplied She was subsequently charged with hindering or resisting arrest and two counts of refusing to comply with all directions to disperse. An additional charge related to the rarely used emergency anti-protest powers introduced after the 2005 Cronulla riots was earlier dropped by police. Appearing before the Bankstown Local Court on Tuesday, Ms Thomas' lawyer Stewart O'Connell told magistrate Glenn Walsh that he believed there would be 'an application in relation to at least one of the charges'. Instead, the police prosecutor confirmed that officers were seeking pleas in relation to all three charges. Pleas of not guilty were subsequently entered to all three matters. The court was told the NSW Director of Public Prosecution had taken carriage. Ms Thomas was one of five people to appear before Bankstown Local Court on Tuesday charged over the protest. Rising Tide organiser Zachary Edward Jaworowski Schofield, Brandon Eid, Shane Reside, and Holly Zhang all had their matters heard on Tuesday, with Mr O'Connell entering pleas of not guilty to each. The court was told the matters would be referred to the NSW DPP because of the 'seriousness and media interest'. In the matters of Mr Reside and Ms Zhnag, the court was told two witnesses would be called, with body-worn video to be produced for the hearing but not any CCTV. Mr Schofield is expected to return before the court later on Tuesday for a bail application. NSW Greens call for Premier to take action In a statement, lawyer Peter O'Brien on Monday called for the charges against Ms Thomas to be dropped, claiming he was 'satisfied' the former Greens candidate had been 'punched in the face' by police. 'My office has now viewed all available footage of the incident giving rise to the moments leading to the injury to Ms Thomas' eye on the 27th of June, and I am satisfied that Ms Thomas was punched in the face by a male police officer, causing extensive and serious injury to her eye,' Mr O'Brien said. Mr O'Brien said Ms Thomas was an 'innocent victim of gratuitous police brutality' and condemned the actions of police as 'completely and entirely unjustifiable'. Ms Thomas was spotted with a swollen eye and blood dripping down her face following the protest. Supplied. Credit: Supplied He said Ms Thomas would be filing a civil claim for compensation against the state over her 'apprehension, injury, detention, and prosecution'. Ms Thomas had earlier claimed her injuries were the result of anti-protest laws introduced by the NSW Labor government earlier this year following a spate of anti-Semitic attacks and an explosives-laden caravan found in Dural in Sydney's northwest that police later said was a fake terrorism plot. The laws outlaw many forms of protest outside places of worship and introduce harsh new penalties. They are subject to a constitutional challenge in the NSW Supreme Court, launched on behalf of the Palestine Action Group. On Tuesday, NSW Greens MLC Sue Higginson called on Police Minister Yasmin Catley to stand Assistant Police Commissioner Brett McFadden down after reports he falsely claimed he reviewed police body-cam footage from the incident involving Ms Thomas and found no evidence of misconduct. 'NSW Police have misled the public, ignored evidence, and made excuses for violence against women – and Labor Premier Chris Minns hasn't uttered a word against them,' she said on Instagram. 'The inconsistent statements from NSW Police make it clear that all charges against Hannah and her fellow protesters should be dropped. 'We will see more violence against peaceful protests unless NSW Labor urgently repeal their draconian anti-protest laws.'
