New York City parents should be furious. A teacher at PS 77 in Park Slope is allegedly praising the mastermind behind the October 7 massacre, and Mayor Zohran Mamdani has said nothing. This isn’t just a bad apple; it’s a rot that threatens our kids and our city’s safety. While the mayor claims to fight hate, his silence on this teacher’s comments speaks volumes about where his loyalties actually lie.
Letters to the editor are flooding in from outraged residents who feel betrayed. A Nutley, New Jersey reader stated that if Damien Neva genuinely holds these views, he ought to depart the US and reside with Hamas in Gaza. Another parent from Brooklyn asked why the mayor isn’t condemning the toxic rhetoric. The fear is real that our children are being taught to support terrorists instead of learning math and reading.
The Teacher’s Alleged Words
The controversy centers on Damien Neva, a teacher at PS 77. Following the October 7, 2023, attack, reports show he authored statements backing Hamas. One letter writer calls these comments outrageous, noting that the man gets in front of students daily. The situation highlights a deeper problem where college educators’ curriculum seems infected with antisemitism, and now it has reached the elementary level.
Parents are asking what’s next. Will kindergarten teachers soon be teaching youngsters about Palestine, Hamas, and oppression? The trust between families and the school system is breaking down. A Water Mill writer observed that since politicians keep signing contracts with teachers unions, individuals like Neva will keep polluting children’s minds and remain employed.
Mamdani’s Broken Promise
Mayor Mamdani made a big promise when he took office last January. He stood at a frigid City Hall and said, according to the New York Post, “If you are a New Yorker, I am your mayor. Regardless of whether we agree, I will protect you, celebrate with you, mourn alongside you and never, not for a second, hide from you.” That pledge sounds like a bad joke now. His administration has not transcended personal prejudices to serve as mayor for every New Yorker.
Instead of building bridges, the mayor’s recent actions have targeted Jews and singled them out. Marking the third anniversary of the Hamas terrorist invasion, he made callous remarks and skipped the Salute to Israel parade. His statement depicted all Palestinians as victims of an Israeli genocide, using numbers from the Gazan health ministry which is controlled by Hamas. This isn’t leadership; it’s a radical agenda battering the city’s unity.
The Union Shield
The hardest part of this story is the reality of firing a teacher in New York. It is nearly impossible. Union representation and grievance filings are rights for a regularly assigned teacher. One letter writer bluntly stated that they are paid no matter what. This union protection allows educators who espouse hate to keep their jobs while parents worry about their children’s future.
New Yorkers need to wake up to this tainting of our future. These teachers, whom you entrust your children with, are poisoning their minds with hateful messages. The mayor’s inaction encourages this behavior. If the city wants to stop the spread of antisemitism, it must find a way to hold educators accountable, regardless of the union contracts.
This is opinion and commentary from the RapForMayor team.
