Hal C. Clarke

The president of the Detectives’ Endowment Association, Paul DiGiacomo, has urged the House of Representatives to vote for the censure of Representative Jamaal Bowman, a member of the “Squad,” following his defense of honoring cop killer Joanne Chesimard at his former Bronx middle school.

DiGiacomo articulated his stance in a letter addressed to House Speaker Mike Johnson, condemning Bowman’s actions as antithetical to modern values and a discredit to his profession. The controversy erupted when Bowman defended the inclusion of Chesimard, also known as Assata Shakur, in the Hall of Honor at the Bronx middle school where he served as principal.

Chesimard gained notoriety for her involvement in the 1973 execution-style slaying of New Jersey State Trooper Werner Foerster before fleeing to Cuba to escape imprisonment. During a community forum, Bowman was questioned about his decision to honor Chesimard, to which he responded defiantly, asserting individuals’ rights to engage with their own history, NY Post reported.

The exchange, captured on video, drew criticism from Marty Dolan, one of Bowman’s Democratic challengers in the upcoming primary election. Bowman defended his actions, stating that the school aimed to educate students about diverse aspects of black and Latino history, including both positive and negative aspects.

This controversy is not the first instance where Bowman has faced scrutiny. Previously, he was censured by the House for allegedly orchestrating a fire alarm stunt to disrupt a vote on Capitol Hill. DiGiacomo emphasized that Bowman’s actions regarding the honoring of Chesimard demonstrate a troubling disregard for the sensitivities of victims’ families and the broader community.

The Detectives’ Endowment Association president highlighted the reprehensibility of honoring a cop killer over other accomplished black and Latino leaders, emphasizing the profound impact such actions could have, particularly in communities like the Bronx, which grapple with high rates of crime and violence.

DiGiacomo reiterated the union’s call for Bowman’s censure, underscoring the need to hold elected officials accountable for their words and actions, especially when they undermine the efforts of law enforcement to protect communities from violence and uphold justice.

Bowman, who represents the 16th Congressional District covering parts of Westchester County and the Bronx, faces a formidable challenge in the upcoming primary from Westchester County Executive George Latimer. The controversy surrounding his defense of honoring Chesimard adds another layer of complexity to his political future.

Bowman is a left wing extremist member of the Justice Democrats, a group of radical, dangerous Maoist influenced ideologues .  Bowman, is in addition to being anti-police woke activist, is a  devout supporter of Palestine and an extremist who wants to server Israeli US relations.

Facing a barrage of super PAC money, more than 20 progressive groups are coming together to forcefully counter pro-Israel groups’ efforts to primary challenge liberal members who’ve been critics of Israel’s  military offensive in Gaza, AP reported.

Bowman is at the forefront of the anti- Israel radicals, defending their at risk seats in congress and local government posts.

“These are a handful of Black and brown progressive incumbents who are under attack from a threat of $100 million in spending and usually Democratic leadership and establishment is up in arms anytime someone primaries an incumbent,” said Usamah Andrabi, communications director for Justice Democrats, one the groups leading the coalition. “But the energy is a little lighter when it comes to some of these progressives and so we are coming together to ensure that they have the resources to defend themselves against AIPAC.”