NY Candidate Darializa Ávila Chevalier Criticized for Racist Posts

Darializa Ávila Chevalier, a 31‑year‑old Democratic Socialist of America‑backed candidate for the U.S. House in New York’s 13th District, is facing strong criticism after 2019 social‑media posts resurfaced. The posts included remarks such as “Black men, Arab men fetishizing ugly colonizer women” and a claim that she closed the door on an “elderly white woman” at a Popeyes restaurant.

The controversy has emerged during the Democratic primary in which Chevalier is challenging incumbent Congressman Adriano Espaillat. Her platform calls for the abolition of prisons, the end of U.S. military aid to Israel, and the dismantling of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Campaign finance records show donations from Palantir Technologies, Dataminr, and an engineer at Palantir who worked on the company’s Foundry data platform.

Chevalier, who was born in Florida and converted to Islam three years ago, has a history of activism at Columbia University, participating in BDS efforts and organizing “tentefada” camps that led to a lawsuit against the university resulting in a $221 million settlement. Her statements and affiliations are now under scrutiny as voters consider her candidacy.