Over the weekend, news of a significant and tragic incident in Israel garnered widespread attention. Reports detailed a terrorist attack, one of the most significant since 9/11, with disturbing accounts of violence targeting civilians, including women and children. The attack was carried out by the terrorist organization Hamas.
Eyewitnesses attending the Supernova festival in Israel reported unsettling events, including terrorists arriving from the Gaza Strip on paragliders and using pickup trucks marked with Hamas military insignia. The attackers-initiated gunfire, resulting in the immediate execution of some individuals while others were taken hostage. Tragically, the event has seen the discovery of 260 casualties so far. Witnesses have reported harrowing accounts of sexual assault near the rave site, next to the bodies of friends, which adds to the gravity of the situation.
According to the Consulate General of Israel in New York, the attack resulted in the loss of 600 Israeli lives, with over 2000 individuals sustaining injuries and more than 100 individuals being kidnapped by Hamas.
Approximately 24 hours after news of the attack reached New York, the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA), a far-left socialist organization with 80,000 dues-paying members in the United States, several elected congressmen, numerous legislators in New York State, and some elected officials in Saratoga, held a rally in Times Square.
During the protest, attendees reacted with enthusiasm as speakers discussed the tragic events in Israel, including the loss of innocent lives and kidnappings. Some participants chanted disturbing slogans advocating harm against the Israeli people.
This tragic incident has sparked strong emotions and discussions about the response to such acts of terrorism. It is essential to maintain a respectful and informed dialogue when discussing these complex and sensitive issues.
Political leaders from the Democratic Party in New York State have strongly criticized the rally.
Senator Chuck Schumer (D) called the rally "ill-timed and cold-hearted," while Governor Kathy Hochul condemned plans to rally in Times Square in support of the perpetrators of recent horrific actions, describing the planned rally as abhorrent and morally repugnant. NYS Assembly leader Heastie and Senate leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins also expressed their opposition to the protest.
Congressman Ritch Torres (D) of New York City went further, stating that he believes there is a deep-seated issue of antisemitism at the core of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) and its supporters.
Moving Saratoga Forward reached out to local leaders from across the county to gather their thoughts on the widely condemned pro-Hamas, DSA rally.
Assemblywoman Carrie Woerner wrote to Moving Saratoga Forward (MSF), expressing her solidarity with her Democratic colleagues in condemning the DSA rally held in New York City. She suggested that she does not view the Democratic Socialists of America as a positive influence on the Democratic Party.
Mayor Ron Kim and Public Safety Commissioner James Montagnino also responded to the situation by condemning the pro-Hamas rally organized by DSA. All three leaders made it clear that they have never accepted endorsements from the far-left organization.
Commissioner Montagnino even addressed the DSA's call for his resignation, stating, "I am proud to say that the DSA has publicly called for my resignation. I would have been bitterly disappointed had they done less."
He sent a letter to his fellow city council members, urging them to set aside their political differences and unite behind the people of Israel.
The joint statement to be issued by Mayor Kim, Commissioner Montagnino, and other city council members reads in part, "We condemn, without reservation, the horrific attack waged by Hamas and supported by Iran, in which hundreds of innocent Israelis (and others, including several Americans) were murdered. Scores of innocent people, including many children, were taken hostage, and thousands were wounded."
As of October 9, at 2 pm, Commissioner Montagnino claimed that he had not received a single response from his colleagues.
“Socialism has failed in every form, in every iteration, and in every place, it has been tried;” said Montagnino.
“The former Soviet Union was the Union of the Soviet “Socialist” Republics; the Nazis were the National “Socialists; “Fidel Castro embraced socialism; Pol Pot embraced socialism, and most recently Venezuela tried its hand at socialism. The outcome is always the same: when the planned economy inevitably fails, the socialist government turns to oppression to attempt to enforce its will.
Generation after generation of socialists claim that their version is better than the last failed version; it never is. No socialist government has ever succeeded on the face of the earth and there is no evidence that one ever will.
Democratic socialism is no different from any other form of socialism in its essence: government control of the means of production. It is irrelevant that the system is nominally “democratic:” slavery is still slavery, even if the slave is “free” to choose his master.” *Moving Saratoga Forward reached out to Commissioner of Finance Minita Sanghvi; Commissioner of Accounts, Dillon Moran and Commissioner of Public Works Jason Golub for comment. None responded*
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