Darializa Avila Chevalier, a Democratic congressional candidate, was arrested during a protest against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s U.N. speech in New York City on September 24, 2026, alongside others demanding an end to U.S. support for Israel’s actions in Gaza.
Darializa Avila Chevalier, a democratic socialist running for New York’s 13th congressional district, was arrested outside the United Nations on September 24, 2026, during a protest against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s speech. Avila Chevalier, who described Netanyahu as a “war criminal,” cited U.S. funding of Israeli military operations and the genocide in Gaza as central to her arrest.
Arrest Amid Mass Protests Against Netanyahu
The protest unfolded as Netanyahu addressed the U.N. General Assembly, with demonstrators blocking traffic on First Avenue and chanting “Free Palestine” and Arrest war criminal Bibi Netanyahu.
Avila Chevalier, a candidate for the House of Representatives, was among those detained after refusing to disperse, stating, I refuse to allow a war criminal to roam the streets of our city unchallenged.
Political and Social Reactions to the Protest
The arrest drew sharp contrasts in political rhetoric. The Guardian quoted Avila Chevalier emphasizing that a country that spends more on war than on programs of social uplift is approaching spiritual death,
echoing Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s 1967 warning. Meanwhile, the Washington Post noted her role as a democratic socialist overwhelmingly favored in the race for a House seat,
framing her arrest as part of a broader movement against U.S. foreign policy. The New York Daily News captured Avilés’ arrest, where she declared, We say no to Netanyahu. No war criminals in New York City,
as police detained her with zip ties.
Next Steps and Broader Implications
Her campaign has vowed to push legislation like the Block the Bombs Act, aiming to curb U.S. military aid to Israel.
