Ex-White House Aide’s Verbal Abuse of NYC Arab Street Vendors
On several occasions, former White House security advisor in the Obama administration, Stuart Seldowitz harassed a halal cart vendor, berating him with Islamophobic remarks. He was caught on camera, calling the vendor a “terrorist” as well as berating the man for not speaking English. Along with that, he voiced his opinion about Palestine, saying that more Palestinian children should be killed amid the ongoing violence in Gaza, “If we killed 4,000 Palestinian kids, it wasn’t enough.”
Seldowitz has been harassing the street vendor located on the corner of East 83rd Street and Second Avenue for two weeks. In the very first video recorded of Seldowtiz, he is seen threatening the vendor and stating that he has “friends in immigration” and that “the Egyptian Mukhabarat wants your picture.” His actions did not come without consequence as in response, Gotham Government Relations a D.C.-based lobbying firm where Seldowitz served as a foreign affairs chair, has cut ties with him.
So who is the man behind the controversy? In the early 2000s, he used to work as a deputy director/senior political officer in the US State Department’s Office of Israel and Palestinian Affairs. Along with that, Seldowtiz reportedly had a 30-year career with the US Department of State and worked as acting director for the National Security Council South Asia Directorate.
Following the controversial act committed by the ex-White House aide, he has taken to social media to give a half-hearted apology where he said “I don’t think I’m an Islamophobic guy,” he added. “I’ve spoken up for equal treatment of Muslims on numerous occasions with numerous different people.” He coupled that the fact that he regrets “the whole thing happened” and that he is sorry.
This one of many videos that surfaced amongst the current ongoing violence in Gaza showcasing the way it brings out major severe ideologies towards Palestine.
