Radical Socialist Darializa Avila Chevalier’s Controversial Campus Activism Highlighted

By the Editorial Team · Thursday, June 25, 2026

Darializa Avila Chevalier, the likely next congresswoman for New York’s 13th District, was a key organizer of the 2024 protests at Columbia University, involving a radical anti-Israel group that led to arrests and the permanent banning of the protest organization from campus. The demonstrations caused injuries and tensions among students, resulting in disciplinary actions against over 70 participants and ongoing debate about Chevalier's activism as she enters Congress.

Darializa Avila Chevalier, the Democrat backed by Mamdani and the likely next congresswoman for New York’s 13th District, has drawn attention for her past activism during her time at Columbia University. At age 32, Chevalier played a prominent role in the 2024 campus protests, including her involvement with a radical anti-Israel group known for its strong rhetoric against Western civilization.

Chevalier became active with Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) in 2014 following a summer internship in Nablus, located in the West Bank. She subsequently co-founded Columbia University Apartheid Divest (CUAD), an organization that pushed to sever Columbia’s financial ties with Israel. CUAD was central to a series of disruptive protests in spring 2024 that culminated in a prolonged tent encampment on the university’s Morningside Heights campus. The group was permanently banned from campus after these demonstrations.

During the protests, which extended over several weeks, law enforcement ultimately intervened, resulting in multiple arrests. Chevalier described the encampment as well-organized, with participants taking measures to ensure each other’s safety and protect against doxxing and other security threats. She noted her continued connection to campus activists and her willingness to offer support when requested.

The protests, however, sparked significant controversy. They led to physical injuries, damage to campus property, and created an atmosphere of fear among Jewish students and faculty members. In response, the university imposed disciplinary measures on more than 70 students, including numerous suspensions and a handful of expulsions.

Chevalier maintained that the university administration, under then-president Minouche Shafik, could have ended the unrest by addressing the protesters’ demands. Attempts to reach Chevalier’s office for comment were not successful.

The 2024 Columbia protests and Chevalier’s role in them continue to be central topics of discussion as she prepares to assume a congressional seat representing New York.

This article was reported by synthesizing coverage from multiple independent news outlets to present a balanced, unbiased account. Read about our editorial standards. Spotted an error? Let us know.