Socialist Congress Candidate Founded Group Aiming to ‘Eradicate’ West
Socialist Nominee’s College Group Advocated for ‘Eradication of Western Civilization’
A Democratic nominee for U.S. Congress, Darializa Avila Chevalier, who secured a primary victory in New York’s 13th Congressional District, was a founder of a college group that explicitly stated its objective was the “total eradication of Western civilization.” Avila Chevalier, 32, a figure in community organizing, detailed her role in launching the boycott, divestment, and sanctions campaign Columbia University Apartheid Divest (CUAD) in a biography for an opinion piece published by The Electronic Intifada.
A 2024 social media post attributed to the group declared, “We are Westerners fighting for the total eradication of Western civilization.” Avila Chevalier was seen on the Columbia campus in May 2024, eight years after her graduation, participating in advocacy alongside CUAD. She was pictured wearing a keffiyeh and a t-shirt bearing the group’s name, and was interviewed by the Associated Press during the university’s encampment protesting actions in Israel, which was later dispersed by law enforcement.
Controversial Group’s Stated Goals Spark Outrage
CUAD gained significant attention earlier this year when its goal of eradicating Western civilization was reportedly posted online. The group’s statement continued, “We stand in full solidarity with every movement for liberation in the Global South. Our Intifada is an internationalist one — we are fighting for nothing less than the liberation of all people.” It further asserted, “We reject every genocidal, eugenicist regime that seeks to undermine the personhood of the colonized.”
Columbia University has publicly disavowed CUAD, stating it has no affiliation with the institution. Avila Chevalier, born in Florida to Dominican immigrants, has reportedly converted to Islam in recent years.
Elected Officials Condemn Nominee’s Affiliations
The emergence of Avila Chevalier’s association with CUAD has triggered widespread criticism, including from prominent Democratic figures. Senator John Fetterman of Pennsylvania expressed his dismay on social media, stating, “Anti-Israel. Anti-America. Anti-Western Civilization. Why am I the only Democrat in the U.S. Senate that refuses to excuse this or defend any of those self-identified communists?”
Further scrutiny has focused on past deleted social media posts attributed to Avila Chevalier, which reportedly contained anti-white women and anti-American sentiments. In one such post, she is quoted as referring to her home country as “a f—ing disgrace.” Another deleted post reportedly included the line, “I forgot to get napkins so I just wiped my hand on the American flag behind me.”
Commentary on social media platforms highlighted the controversial nature of her group’s stated aims. One user, Sean Fitzgerald, observed, “This lady founded an organization with a stated goal of Eradicating Western civilization, & a bunch of rich white progressives who know she means them, said ‘please do.'”
Mark Hemingway, a writer for RealClearInvestigations, commented on the implications for political allegiances, suggesting, “The real ‘country over party’ test isn’t going to be about Trump. It’s going to be over communist Congress members who literally say they want to eradicate Western civilization.”
Given the district’s strong Democratic leaning, Avila Chevalier is widely expected to win the general election in November.
