Bronx, NY — In the two years following October 7, 2023, the U.S. sent Israel nearly $22 billion in military financing. According to Brown University, as of 2025 nearly the entire population of Gaza had been displaced, and over 10% of its population killed or injured. The genocide is ongoing.

Andre Easton, Bronx teacher, father, and socialist candidate running for New York's 15th Congressional District, issued the following statement on August 14th:

“Ritchie Torres' unconditional support for Israel is the minority position now, and he holds it at the expense of his own constituents in the Bronx. I'm with the majority on this one: end all US aid to Israel, and kick AIPAC out of our elections once and for all.

“The billionaire pro-Israel lobbyists know they are losing this argument. That's why they are spending millions more each cycle to influence elections across the country. The vast majority of AIPAC's election spending has gone into Democratic Party races ever since AIPAC created its super PAC, the United Democracy Project, in 2022.

“Groups like AIPAC understand that unconditional US financial and political support for Israel's genocide in Gaza is losing ground, especially among young Democratic voters. That's why they spend heavily to hold a line that fewer and fewer people believe in.

“If the billionaire lobbyists are this scared, then New York's 15th Congressional District is ready for a change.”