Hakeem Jeffries visits Nova Music Festival Exhibit – Spectrum News NY1

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House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries of Brooklyn was the latest politician to visit the Nova Music Festival Exhibition in lower Manhattan.
The exhibit documents how Gazan militants killed hundreds of people and took 44 hostages as part of the Oct. 7 attack on Israel.
“Having the opportunity to visit the Nova Music Festival exhibit really brings home in just a visceral way how violent, how brutal and how inhumane that attack was, on 10/7,” Jeffries said on Tuesday.
Tal Shimony, a survivor who worked at the festival, was Jeffries’ tour guide through the exhibit.
“We were spending all the day hiding in the house that was 500 meters away from the terrorists, trying to rescue as many friends as we could,” Shimony told NY1.
Shimony told her story to Jeffries — as she does for anyone who visits.
“I tell my story the same way to everyone else because what’s important here is to understand the story of this community. We are [a] peaceful, loving, lighted community,” she said.
Last week, protesters targeted the Nova exhibit. It was described by one pro-Palestinian organization, “Within Our Lifetime,” on social media as “one of the most egregious zionist propaganda projects” in the city.
Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer had visited the exhibit days before the protest. Mayor Eric Adams also took a tour after the demonstrations.
“The fact that I was closed again in a house and I can’t leave brought me back to the same experience I had on Oct. 7,” she said.
Jeffries condemned the protest.
“The disturbing rise of antisemitic incidents, including what occurred right outside of these doors, is shocking and shameful,” he said.
Even some of Israel’s critics in Congress thought the protest crossed a line.
One of those critics, Rep. Jamaal Bowman, said on social media that celebrating the Oct. 7 attack is “antisemitic and unacceptable.”
Bowman is facing a tough primary challenge from Westchester County Executive George Latimer — where policy and rhetoric over Israel and the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza have become campaign issues.  
But as an incumbent, Bowman has Jeffries’ support.
“We strongly disagree with each other as it relates to the relationship that the United States has necessarily with Israel and, of course, the importance of continuing to ensure that Israel has the ability to defend itself,” Jeffries said.
NY1 reached out to the Bowman campaign for comment.
Jeffries also defended President Joe Biden’s efforts to achieve peace in the region.
“Hamas is the obstacle to peace and I think it’s important for all of us to continue to articulate that loudly, publicly and forcefully,” Jeffries said.
Following the protest, Nova exhibit organizers decided to keep it open another week through June 22.

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