NYC City Council funneled $9 MILLION in taxpayer dollars to anti-Israel groups that sponsored massive protests

Since 2010, New York City has paid over $9 million of taxpayer money to pro-Hamas organizations that have organized massive protests in which some demonstrators have called for the eradication of Israel since the Oct. 7 terrorist attack on the country. 

According to the New York Post, $4.46 million was given to the organizations through various city contracts or political pork spending to help seated politicians get local support, while almost $2 million was awarded with the city's "discretionary funds" since 2021. 

The Arab American Association of New York, which hosted the "Flood Brooklyn for Palestine" rally in Bay Ridge on October 21, saw the bulk of the money from the city. It received $6.8 million from pork and various contracts. 

Co-sponsor of the Bay Ridge protest, the Muslim American Society of New York received over $260,000 from the city. The Desis Rising Up and Moving (DRUM) organization, co-sponsored a massive protest in Bryant Park that saw over 150 people arrested and was awarded over $390,000.

The Tides Center, which is heavily funded by far-left billionaire George Soros, also received over $1.2 million in city funds. Through his Open Society Fundations, Soros has given the organization over $13.7 million which supports organizations like the Adalah Justice Project performed a sit-in at the office of Rep. Ro Khanna (D-CA) and has posted on its Instagram in support of the attack on Oct. 7. 

Sara Forman, executive of the pro-Israel group New York Solidarity Network, told the outlet, "Any group that’s taking taxpayer money shouldn’t be advancing anti-Jewish hate speech or excusing anti-Jewish violence." she added, "Elected officials going forward need to think long and hard before they reward taxpayer money to these groups who knowingly ally with organizations that have extremist agendas and extreme political views.” 

In reaction to the revelation about these organizations receiving taxpayer funds, Councilman Kalman Yeger (D) of Borough Park said, "No group that partners in hate causes against New Yorkers should be given taxpayer funds to do so.”

A spokeswoman for Mayor Eric Adams's office, Liz Garcia said, "Mayor Adams has been clear that New York City stands against terror and hate.” She added, “We will continue to carefully consider the integrity of the city’s partner organizations, as we currently do.”