Jamaal Bowman justifies inclusion of controversial figures on school ‘Wall of Honor

New York Democratic congressman Jamaal Bowman is defending his ⁣decision to glorify a prominent anti-Semite‍ and two cop killers on a “Wall of ‌Honor” at the middle ⁤school he⁤ led, with his campaign saying those figures ⁤”have complicated biographies” and should still be taught to children.

As principal ⁢of Cornerstone Academy for Social Action, Bowman in 2014 curated a “Wall of ⁢Honor” that featured former congresswoman Cynthia McKinney (D., Ga.), Assata Shakur,‍ and Mutulu ​Shakur—all of⁣ whom Bowman said “played a‌ major role in⁣ moving our ⁢society … toward⁢ a world of ​freedom, justice, and equality,” according to ‍a HuffPost report. Years before Bowman established the wall, in 2009, McKinney attended a Holocaust⁢ denial gathering in London,‍ where she praised anti-Semitic leaders ⁢and writers.​ Assata Shakur was convicted for the first-degree murder of a New Jersey state trooper in 1973, while Mutulu Shakur ‌led a group of armed robbers who killed a ⁢guard and two New York police officers in 1981.

Now, Bowman says his inclusion of those figures⁢ on his “Wall of Honor” is nothing to criticize, with his campaign even contending that the lives of ‌McKinney,​ Assata Shakur, and Mutulu Shakur should be taught to American schoolchildren.

“It ⁤is correct that many leaders in the Black liberation movement ‍… have complicated biographies,” Bowman spokeswoman‍ Sarah Iddrissu told Huffpost. “It‌ is completely baseless, and a rhetorical tool of the far-right, to insinuate educating students on‍ major figures of Black American history is serving to promote hateful or divisive rhetoric or actions.”

“Suppressing the education of ‍Black history only serves to ​enable violence​ against Black people,” she concluded.

The‍ ordeal marks yet⁤ another controversy for Bowman, who is facing a difficult primary campaign against Westchester County executive George ‍Latimer.

Bowman in January‍ attended ⁣a New ⁢York City panel discussion titled, “Palestine Oct. 7th and After.” Bowman ⁤took the mic at⁢ the panel to gushingly ⁢introduce Norman ⁤Finkelstein, an anti-Israel author who ⁢celebrated Hamas’s massacre as ​a “heroic resistance” that “warm[ed] every fiber” of his soul. Bowman said he ‌was “starstruck” by⁢ Finkelstein⁢ and other anti-Israel panelists “because I watch them ⁣all the time on YouTube.” After the comment prompted criticism, Bowman said he was “unaware” of Finkelstein’s ​comments.

Just weeks later, the Daily Beast unearthed a poem Bowman published ‍to his ‍personal blog, which suggested the‍ Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks⁣ were a false flag operation used by the U.S. ‌government‍ to wage war in the Middle East. “Allegedly/Two other planes/The Pentagon/Pennsylvania/Hijacked by terrorist/Minimal damage done/Minimal debris found/Hmmm…” Bowman wrote in one stanza. He also served as principal of Cornerstone Academy at the time.

The poem ​may explain‌ Bowman’s affinity for McKinney, ‍who in 2002 ⁣suggested then-president George W. Bush knew about ⁢the Sept. 11‍ attacks in advance and allowed ‌them to happen so his father could make money. McKinney went on to⁤ post a photo to social media that blamed Jews for⁢ the attacks.‌ Her father similarly blamed Jews when McKinney lost her congressional seat in 2002.

“Jews have bought everybody. Jews. J-E-W-S,” ‍he⁤ said.

Bowman, who did⁢ not return a request for comment, has lagged behind Latimer in fundraising. As of Dec. 31,‌ he holds just $631,000 on hand, compared with Latimer’s $1.3 million.

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