With Columbia University set to be represented in Congress by former protester, advocates see ‘new wave of hope’.
Over the past year, it may have appeared that the pro-Palestine protest movement in the United States has lost momentum in the face of smears, crackdowns, indifference and fatigue. But a string of electoral wins by critics of Israeli abuses appears to indicate that activism’s success can only be measured in the long term.
In New York, Darializa Avila Chevalier, an activist who participated in the pro-Palestine protests at Columbia University, won a Democratic congressional primary against a five-term incumbent. ‘It’s just so satisfying to feel like the tide is finally turning,’ said Maryam Alwan, who participated in the Columbia protest in 2024.
Candidates backed by supporters of Palestinian rights also won key races in Pennsylvania and New Jersey.
Columbia Case
Avila Chevalier’s victory especially stands out in the context of the long-term impact of the student protests. The democratic socialist nominee, who is likely to cruise to victory in a safe Democratic district in November, will represent large parts of Columbia University’s campus, where it all started.
