A Brooklyn teacher, Damien Neva, is under investigation for praising Hamas leader Yahya Al-Sinwar in a group chat. Neva, 48, posted "Long live Yahya Al-Sinwar" in a Signal group chat related to the Park Slope Food Coop in November 2024.
What happened
Neva, a teacher at PS 77 in Park Slope, Brooklyn, made the post in a group chat with other anti-Israel members of the co-op. The chat was part of a lawsuit related to the Park Slope Food Coop, which recently voted to ban Israeli goods. Neva's social media posts also included a sticker with Israel on it being shredded and a post comparing Warsaw in 1944 to Palestine in 2024.
The investigation into Neva's actions was sparked by a lawsuit filed by Jewish members of the grocery coop. The Department of Education has stated that antisemitism and support for terrorist organizations have no place in the school system and that they are committed to fostering an inclusive environment for all students.
Former Brooklyn assemblyman Dov Hikind has called for Neva to be fired, stating that it is incomprehensible that someone who believes Yahya Al-Sinwar is a hero could be teaching in a classroom. The Schools Chancellor's office has referred the allegation for investigation in accordance with Chancellor's Regulations.
