Shrestha says Hochul ‘has no empathy for her Palestinian constituents’
State Assemblywoman Sarahana Shrestha, DEsopus, has criticized Gov. Kathy Hochul for having no “empathy for her Palestinian constituents.”
“The Governor has no empathy for her Palestinian constituents,” Shrestha wrote. “Instead, she effectively calls for more deaths and war crimes.”
Shrestha was responding to another post on X from a City & State reporter that read: “‘I call on law-abiding Palestinians to reject Hamas,’ is Hochul’s message to Palestinian New Yorkers who fear for their loved one in Gaza as Israel promises a complete siege that is already worsening the humanitarian crisis there. ‘Israel has the right to defend itself,’ she adds.”
In a statement Shrestha issued Friday after being sent an inquiry to expand on the posting and calls for her to be removed from office, the assemblywoman blasted the political shenanigans including an attempt to remove her from office.
“I’m not at all surprised that career politicians on both sides of the aisle are more interested in creating opportunities out of tragedies than they are in ending tragedies,” Shrestha wrote. “It’s why most people don’t have any faith in our democracy. Republicans, who rallied to question the results of the 2020 election, who rallied around the Jan 6 coup, who only on Wednesday voted to make a white supremacist antisemite their nominee for Speaker of the House, and who regularly vote against basic rights in the State Assembly are now equating Hamas with a nonviolent democratic organization at home and pushing to remove democratically
elected legislators like myself. This is unserious.”
Shrestha, who represents the 103rd Assembly District, said that her first term has been a learning experience. She took office in January.
“What I’ve learned in my first term as a politician is most politicians don’t care about their constituents, they only care about their re-election,” Shrestha said. “And I’m not interested in playing this game. There are real problems to solve not just for my constituents, but for the world, together in solidarity with each other.”
“I have constituents coming to our office because they don’t have housing despite having a job, because they can’t pay their utility bill despite having a job,” Shrestha said. “I have seniors who are crumbling under rising costs. And there are Jewish, Muslim, Palestinian, and Israeli New Yorkers, including my constituents, who are experiencing grief, loss, fear, and anxiety—I’m not going to make a mockery of them by engaging in these shameless political games.”
In a video posted on X Friday, Hochul said she condemns “violence of every kind in New York.”
“I want to be clear,” Hochul said. “When I say every kind that is exactly what I mean.”
Hochul added that she was outraged by reports of violence against Jewish people but also Palestinians.
“I have zero tolerance for hate directed towards Palestinian New Yorkers, a community that is also cherished and respected in our state.”
Meanwhile, a Republican state lawmaker has called on the Democratic majority of the legislature to expel any members who support the Democratic Socialists of America which promoted a pro-Palestinian rally on Monday in New York City. Shrestha is a member of the Mid-Hudson Valley chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America and a former chairwoman of the local branch.
Assemblyman Chris Tague, R-Schoharie, who represents the 102nd Assembly District, said he supports Israel.
“I stand with my fellow Republicans in voicing our support for Israel during these trying times,” Tague said in a statement. “The unprovoked attacks are nothing short of pure, barbaric terrorism by Hamas. These extremists are brutally raping, torturing and killing innocent civilians, including American citizens, babies and families, and the U.S. has a duty as an ally and as a proponent of human rights to assist Israel in its time of need.”
Tague wants members of the DSA such as Shrestha removed from office. Shrestha posted his call on X, with a message encouraging people to join he group.
“I also call on the Assembly Majority to remove or condemn the members of their Conference who voice support for Hamas or the Democratic Socialists of America,” Tague said in a statement. “This is not a time to stand idly watching events unfold, it is time to act and prevent the destruction from leaking into our nation.”
A similar stance was taken by GOP House members including U.S. Rep. Marc Molinaro, RCatskill, in a bill introduced by U.S. Rep. Mike Lawler, who represents the 17th Congressional District.
It is a “resolution condemning the New York City Democratic Socialists of America (NYCDSA) for their shocking display of support for the recent Hamas terrorist attack against Israel,” a statement from Lawler’s office said.