Arrest of Former Ocasio-Cortez Associate for Threats Against Jewish Students Sparks Outrage
A woman from New York City, who was previously associated with Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, has been arrested for allegedly making threats against a Brooklyn public high school attended by Jewish students. Iman Abdul, 27, was charged with making a terroristic threat, endangering the welfare of a child, aggravated harassment, and making a threat of mass harm.
The New York Police Department confirmed that Abdul was reported to have made a terroristic threat through social media towards the Leon Goldstein High School for the Sciences in Manhattan Beach. Screenshots of posts from Abdul's Instagram account were obtained by the New York Post, where she allegedly made threatening remarks about the school attended by Jewish students.
Stop Antisemitism and Jewish advocate Uri Cohen shared Abdul's photo and the post demanding her prosecution over the threats. Abdul was arraigned on charges of making a terroristic threat and making a threat of mass harm, pleading not guilty.
Tova Plaut, a Department of Education pre-K staffer and Jewish activist, expressed outrage over the threats made against the school, emphasizing the seriousness and evil nature of such actions. Abdul defended her post before her account was deactivated, stating that she called for an attack on the school as a Zionist institution funded by public dollars.
The Brooklyn District Attorney's office was contacted for more information on the case, but no immediate response was received. Abdul's connection to Ocasio-Cortez's campaign was also revealed, as she worked on the congresswoman's Democratic primary campaign in 2018 and on State Sen. Julia Salazar's campaign as a paid canvasser.
Abdul's attorney declined to comment on the case, and attempts to reach out to Ocasio-Cortez's campaign and congressional office for a response were unsuccessful. The situation involving Abdul's arrest for making threats against a Brooklyn high school has raised concerns and sparked calls for accountability and action against such behavior.