Zohran Mamdani’s inaugural committee includes DSA organizer who praised Israeli hostage poster rippers as ‘heroes’
Mayor‑elect Zohran Mamdani’s launch team gathers a row of controversial Democratic Socialists
When Mayor‑elect Zohran Mamdani announced the roster for his inaugural committee, the line‑up drew immediate attention, not just for its political clout but for the presence of several figures who have made headlines for their outspoken criticism of Israel.
Alvaro Lopez: an outspoken DSA organizer
Alvaro Lopez, an electoral organizer with the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA), is one of the most visible names on the list. In a November 2023 tweet on X, Lopez praised two women who tore down Israeli hostage posters on the Upper West Side. “All I see are heroes,” he wrote, calling the women “heroes.” His post also noted the moment when one of the women shouted “f–k you, f–k Israel” at a passerby who spoke out against the posters.
Lopez is no stranger to controversy. In October 2023, he accused U.S. Representative Ritchie Torres (D‑NY) of having “Palestinian children’s blood on your hands.” He added a bewildering question about Torres’s “asking price from APAIC [sic]?”—the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, an organization that advocates for Israel.
After Mamdani’s announcement, Lopez claimed he didn’t remember making the statement on X, saying it might have been a “really chaotic time.” When presented with a screenshot and link to the original post, he declined to provide further comments.
Other DSA‑affiliated members
Mamdani’s team also includes Rachel Griffin‑Accurso—known online as Ms. Rachel—who has faced accusations that her preschool‑sized videos echo pro‑Hamas rhetoric. In one clip, she appeared to endorse a “May God curse the Jews themselves” sentiment. Her inclusion, like Lopez’s, has led observers to scrutinize whether the mayor’s inauguration is aligned with a particular anti‑Israel narrative.
Beth Miller, the political director for the Jewish Voice for Peace, sits in on the committee as well. Miller has openly accused Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of “pledging to commit war crimes against Palestinians in Gaza,” a comment made in the wake of the October 2023 Hamas attacks that left 1,200 Israelis dead.
There were also plans for Catherine Almonte Da Costa to serve as the mayor’s head of appointments. However, last week Da Costa resigned after a trove of antisemitic tweets surfaced, in which she referred to “money hungry Jews."
The broader context
Mamdani himself is a member of the DSA, an organization that faced widespread backlash when it hosted a pro‑Palestine rally in Times Square shortly after the Hamas‑led Oct. 7, 2023 attacks. The rally was seen by critics as a “hate‑filled” demonstration, further fueling debate over the party’s stance.
While the mayor’s inauguration team is being praised by some for its progressive credentials, critics argue that the inclusion of individuals with openly anti‑Israel or antisemitic statements risks polarizing a city already grappling with the complex fallout from Middle Eastern geopolitics.
As New York City prepares for its new administration, the mayor’s chosen advisors will play a key role in shaping policy and messaging. Whether the controversial lineup will help or hinder Mamdani’s agenda remains to be seen.
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