Brad Lander, the Democratic candidate for the seat to represent New York’s 10th Congressional District, emerged undaunted from a protest where he was heckled and forced out for being a Zionist despite his extreme criticism of Israel, including labeling Israel’s actions in Gaza a genocide.

“I want to address what happened over the weekend outside Madison Square Garden, where a few loudmouths heckled me. To be clear, I’m just fine, and I’m glad I attended,” he said in a video recording he posted to his X account, explaining that he attended to protest the treatment of minorities in India.

“I won’t stop joining rallies against hate in India, in Israel, and Palestine, or in New York City because of a couple of loud numbskulls,” he added.

He then doubled down on his harsh stance on Israel, saying his position has earned him criticism from both sides.

“I protest when I believe people are perverting Judaism to justify ethnic cleansing and exclusion, and I feel solidarity for Muslims who are doing the same,” he said. “Now, it’s no secret that some people disagree strongly with some of my views, as someone who objects vehemently to what Israel is doing to Palestinians in Gaza, which I do believe meets the definition of genocide, and in the West Bank and in Lebanon.”

“I get criticized frequently by centrist and right-wing Jews,” he said. “And as someone who nonetheless believes in the vision and the possibility of a Jewish and democratic Israel alongside a free Palestine, once decades of occupation and apartheid end, I get criticized frequently by left wingers who oppose Zionism.”

“Those conversations aren’t always easy, but I try to take them seriously, to listen in good faith, and to build coalitions with people who don’t always agree on everything, and I have no plan to stop,” he added.

“Of course, it’s not great when a couple of fringe assholes with drums and bullhorns take over a rally and try to bully people,” he said. “So, I calmly stood my ground and I remained at the protest against the RSS. No one’s going to tell me where I can stand or what positions I can take.”

At first, Lander did stand his ground, but omitted the fact that he was forced to move to a different area of the protest for his own safety.

Lander thanked those who spoke out against the behavior of the hecklers, including Yaakov Berman, a Chabad liaison, who he said rebuked people online who “took delight” in what happened.

Critics have said that Jewish anti-Zionists who try to prove their anti-Zionist bona fides eventually fail because anti-Zionism is not about Israel; it’s about hating Jews. They add that no rhetoric against Israel, no matter how extreme, will be enough for the Jew haters, citing Scott Wiener as a case in point.

Observers have said that Brad Lander has yet to learn this lesson, despite a hard one being administered already.