Fetterman confronted over support for Israel — aide physically TOSSES man out of event

Pennsylvania Sen. John Fetterman’s (D) position on Israel scored him activist ire and a confrontation that landed a constituent booted from an event.

Unlike radical members of Congress like Democratic Reps. Rashida Tlaib (Mich.) and Ilhan Omar (Minn.), whose sympathies have dubbed them part of the “Hamas Caucus,” the freshman senator remained unequivocal in his support for Israel since the Oct. 7 terror attack.

As a result, while Fetterman appeared at a fundraising event in support of Allegheny County Executive candidate Sara Innamorato, the senator was faced with a feisty former professor demanding to know why he had not supported a “humanitarian ceasefire.”

Posted to his own social media, former University of Pittsburgh School of Law international human rights professor Daniel Kovalik could be seen frustratingly challenging the congressman as music from Queen blared in the background.

Captioning the confrontation, the activist wrote, “I just took on @JohnFetterman for his failure to support a ceasefire for #Gaza and was assaulted. Come see the violence inherent in the system.”

I just took on ⁦⁦@JohnFetterman⁩ for his failure to support a ceasefire for #Gaza and was assaulted. Come see the violence inherent in the system. pic.twitter.com/QOTKHNAnfE

— Dan Kovalik (@danielmkovalik) October 29, 2023

No sooner had Kovalik questioned Fetterman, who remained mum throughout the short video taken near the entry of Shorty’s Tap X Taco in West Homestead, Pennsylvania, an aide attempted to field the question leading to the keyed-up constituent arguing, “I can talk to- — I voted for him. I’m sorry, this is a democracy.”

The former professor then proceeded to argue, “10,000 people in Gaza have been killed, half are children. The pope’s calling for a ceasefire; the U.N. has called for it. I’m just askin’ ya, you’re a good guy, I voted for ya, I know you’re a nice guy. This is important.”

A moment later he attempted to pass Fetterman a flyer only to have a man wearing the standard uniform of the senator, shorts and a Carhartt hoodie, forcibly remove him from the property as the videographer leveled Kovalik had been assaulted to the sounds of The Rolling Stones.

A promotional flyer for the event detailed suggested ticket prices ranging from $100 for a guest and up to $1,000 for a sponsor of Innamorato and the activist attorney later noted on X, “By the way, I had a paid ticket to this event with @JohnFetterman.”

By the way, I had a paid ticket to this event with @JohnFetterman

— Dan Kovalik (@danielmkovalik) October 30, 2023

Mint Press founder Mnar Adley, whose site editorially supports Syria, Russia and Iran, referred to Kovalik as a friend as she called for others to confront legislators against Israel’s right to defend itself posting, “Imagine assaulting & dragging out an international human rights lawyer for asking an elected official why he won’t call for a ceasefire in Gaza…Every elected official should be confronted in this way!”

For more info: my dear friend, International human rights lawyer, author and professor @danielmkovalik confronts Pennsylvania official John Fetterman for not calling for a ceasefire in Gaza.

Every elected official should be confronted in this way!

— Mnar Adley (@MnarMuh) October 30, 2023

Though silent throughout the exchange, Fetterman’s position has been clearly stated and demonstrated repeatedly since Oct. 7 and obviously struck a chord as protesters have taken stands outside his offices.

Dozens of protesters are marching on U.S. Sen. John Fetterman’s office in Philly, urging the senator to call for a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war. Here outside the U.S. Custom House now: pic.twitter.com/heJuXswLCy

— Max M. Marin (@MaxMMarin) October 19, 2023

As previously reported, while some had jumped at the opportunity to blame Israel for an explosion at a hospital in Gaza, the senator had called out those congressmen calling it “truly disturbing” that they “rushed to blame Israel for the hospital tragedy.”

He further stated, “Now is not the time to talk about a ceasefire. We must support Israel in efforts to eliminate the Hamas terrorists who slaughtered innocent men, women, and children. Hamas does not want peace, they want to destroy Israel. We can talk about a ceasefire after Hamas is neutralized.”

Now is not the time to talk about a ceasefire. We must support Israel in efforts to eliminate the Hamas terrorists who slaughtered innocent men, women, and children.

Hamas does not want peace, they want to destroy Israel. We can talk about a ceasefire after Hamas is neutralized.

— Senator John Fetterman (@SenFettermanPA) October 18, 2023

Since then, Fetterman had also made a point of displaying flyers of the hostages taken by Hamas outside of his office in Washington, D.C. as he noted, “We won’t stop sharing their stories until [they are safely returned home.]”

My office will display every last one of the innocent Israelis kidnapped by Hamas until they are safely returned home.

We won’t stop sharing their stories until then. pic.twitter.com/1E7En9MAkD

— Senator John Fetterman (@SenFettermanPA) October 26, 2023

Staff Writer

Native of Brooklyn, NY, Kevin Haggerty is a graduate of Hunter College where he studied Cultural Anthropology and Geography. An avid reader and truth seeker, he currently resides in Texas with his wife and their dog and, when he isn’t researching current events and their impacts, you’ll find him spending time with friends and family or working on his next novel.

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