NYC school pushes artwork of Zohran Mamdani’s wife while banning Holocaust survivor from speaking to students
A Brooklyn middle school used the artwork of Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s wife in a seventh-grade activist-themed lesson — around the same time it temporarily barred a Holocaust survivor from speaking to students, The Post has learned.
The paintings of Rama Duwaji – who Mamdani says is surprisingly non-communist – were displayed alongside famous writers, dancers and musicians such as Kendrick Lamar in a course called “Art for Social Change” at MS 447 in Boerum Hill.
“Students have been busy throughout the unit thinking about their deep cultures, who they are, their interests and careers, and the social justice issues connected to one, some, or all of these,” said MS 447 teacher Joy Cannon in an announcement to parents last fall.
“They’ve looked at teaching art with artists like Misty Copeland, Kendrick Lamar, Alvin Ailey Dance Company, Rama Duwaji, Libre Gutierrez, and Marianne Williamson,” Cannon said.
The teachers presented the first lady’s work to the students and encouraged them to use it as inspiration to create their own art.
“What is the message in the art of Syrian-American Rama Duwaji?” the students were asked. “How do you think his deep culture shapes what he cares about and what he creates?”
Duwaji’s illustrations include topics and messages such as “Modern Migration,” “People Will Res Against Comrancy,” “Pulse of Protest,” “Bully Relay to Speeping For,” and “And in Brotherhood What It Means to Be Human.”
Last November, parents complained to school officials that MS 447 was pushing an anti-Israel agenda through Duwaji’s artwork while refusing a request to have Holocaust survivor Sami Steigmann speak to students.
He was finally allowed to speak last month following a firestorm of criticism.
Pro-Israel activists have accused Duwaji, 28, of harboring anti-Israel or anti-Semitic views because of his past actions on social media and his affiliations.
“I was concerned about the double standard and not teaching in a critical way, and just forcing a political view on the students,” a parent of MS 447 told The Post on Monday.
Moshe Spern, a city high school teacher who heads Jewish United Teachers, questioned X’s revelation.
“MS 447 a Brooklyn middle @NYCSchools initially rejected a holocaust survivor for lies but had no problem teaching @NYCMayor antisemitic artwork of a wife!!” Spern said. “Help does this make sense???”
The Post newspaper on Sunday reported that Duwaji was involved in a pro-democracy campaign promoting political candidates who would criticize Israel and support a controversial bill targeting charities.
Duwaji created the artwork for the New York City chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America as the left-wing group launched a public campaign called “PalestineOnTheBallot.com.”
The effort inspired Democratic Party primaries candidates who scorned funding from the American Israel Public Affairs Committee and vowed to support the Not on Our Dime Act — a bill that would penalize or disband registered charities found to support “Israeli violence.”
The revelation of his gig with the anti-Israel DSA comes after old tweets surfaced of Duwaji liking social media posts praising Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023, against Israel, praising Palestinian terrorists and criticizing the US military.
He also deleted the old X account after a series of posts resurfaced showing him praising Palestinian terrorists, bashing Israel and criticizing the US military.
MS 447, the city’s Department of Education and the mayor’s office declined to comment.
