Darializa Avila Chevalier, the Democratic nominee for New York’s 13th Congressional District, was arrested Thursday during a planned protest outside the United Nations in New York City after demonstrators blocked First Avenue.

Chevalier joined roughly 250 protesters at the demonstration organized by Jewish Voice for Peace near First Avenue and 39th Street. Protesters sat in the roadway, blocking travel and stopping traffic as they rallied in opposition to U.S. support for Israel and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s before his appearance to the United Nations. Police were eventually forced to move in and arrested dozens of people who remained in the street and refused lawful orders. Organizers claim more than 100 protesters were taken into custody but the exact number is unconfirmed.

Chevalier was charged with disorderly conduct, according to the NYPD. She was among several Democratic Socialists, both candidates and elected officials, who participated in the demonstration. DSA-affiliated New York City Council members Chi Ossé and Alexa Avilés were also arrested for disorderly conduct, while other progressive congressional candidates and state lawmakers joined the protest.

Following her arrest, Chevalier defended her participation and renewed criticism of Netanyahu over Israeli military actions in Gaza, calling the foreign leader a "war criminal". She said she would not allow Netanyahu to move through New York without opposition and argued against U.S. taxpayer support for Israel.

Chevalier won the Democratic primary in June by defeating five-term incumbent Representative Adriano Espaillat. The victory came after strong backing from the DSA and New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, a prominent DSA ally who helped propel her campaign in the heavily Democratic district covering parts of Manhattan and the Bronx.

Her campaign has drawn attention for fringe far-left positions, including calls to abolish prisons and immigration enforcement entirely. Chevalier has proudly positioned herself as a standard-bearer for DSA agenda in Congress should she be elected. Chevalier faces little opposition in the November general election in her solidly blue district.

Chevalier has made opposition to Israel a significant part of her political career. She participated in the 2024 pro-Palestinian encampments at Columbia University and was arrested again earlier this year during a demonstration targeting Sens. Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand over U.S. weapons sales to Israel. She has also appeared alongside online leftist influencer Hasan Piker despite backlash. Piker, whose online platform has amplified a socialist agenda as well as pushed pro-Hamas rhetoric, has been widely condemned over past comments. Piker has previously claimed that "America deserved 9/11", referring to the 2001 terrorist attacks that killed nearly 3,000 innocent civilians, as well as saying he believed that the United States is worse than al-Qaeda.

The Thursday protest took place shortly before Netanyahu delivered his address to the U.N. General Assembly, where he directly criticized elected figures, such as New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, and condemned candidates that associate or align with Piker or his beliefs.

Republicans have pointed to similar statements from Piker and DSA members as evidence of extreme elements gaining ground within the Democratic Party.