Assemblyman Lester Chang, a Republican from Brooklyn, has accused New York Democratic leadership of blocking a bipartisan effort to commemorate the Oct. 7, 2023, terror attack in Israel. After months of careful drafting, Chang’s bill was redirected to a larger committee and ultimately rejected, with the assemblyman blaming partisan interference for the setback.
Chang had been working on the resolution since hostage negotiations began a year ago, citing his own military experience as a Navy veteran of 24 years. He collaborated with staff to ensure the message was balanced and free from partisan bias. Despite having Democratic co-sponsors, the bill was blocked by House Speaker Carl Heastie and other top Democrats, who called it ‘controversial.’
Chang and colleagues believed they had the right balance to attempt a vote, but the bill was ultimately shifted to the Ways and Means committee, with four members ‘switched out.’ Ed Ra, the top Republican on that panel, stated that remembering Oct. 7 and combating antisemitism should never be ‘political.’
Ari Brown, another Republican, accused Democrats of ‘veiled antisemitism,’ claiming the legislature is ‘rotten’ with it. The assembly also rejected a resolution from Brown that complimented Chang’s bill. Chang noted that no GOP bills have been successfully passed this session, suggesting that having a Republican sponsor could be a procedural obstacle.
Chang, a person of Chinese ancestry representing Bensonhurst, emphasized that he has no religious stake in the issue. He noted that the district is largely Christian and Buddhist, making the commemoration even more poignant for non-Jewish residents. At least seven Democrats supported the legislation, all from New York City.
Senate Minority Leader Rob Ortt, R-Niagara Falls, echoed Chang’s concerns in comments to Fox News Digital. Ortt said the least the legislature could do was commemorate the tragic day, adding that Democrats have ‘refused to defend our Jewish brothers and sisters.’