To the Editorial Team: We urge Congressman Pat Ryan (D-New York’s 18th Congressional District) to speak out against Hasan Piker, an informal advisor to many Democratic candidates and office holders, who skews Jewish support for Israel as creating antisemitism. Piker claims that Jews are creating a “dangerous mode of propaganda” because Jews are “singularly invested in Israel [so] that eventually someone is going to take action not against Israel but against American Jews.”

Unfortunately, “action” against American Jews here in Ulster County and nationwide is already underway. Piker is an avowed anti-Zionist who has said that “Hamas is 1,000 times better” than Israel, has said that “I don’t have an issue” with Hezbollah, compared an Iranian-backed Houthi rebel to Anne Frank and likened liberal Zionists to “liberal Nazis.”

House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries said, "The malicious claim that American Jews are inviting violence against themselves is dangerous and antisemitic." We urge Congressman Ryan to speak out as U.S. Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ) who said, "The only one inciting violence against American Jews is Piker and his rhetoric. For the future of our party, Democrats have to call out his hate and condemn these dangerous views. Anyone campaigning with him is part of the problem."

Indeed Democrats should all be speaking out against Piker. This should be a politically safe zone for Congressman Ryan, which we recognize may be a concern for him given the make up of his district.

Linda A. Geary

Dr. Lori Morris

Erika Swartzberg

Constituents of NY-18