Barnett Zhao
Barnett Zhao participated in at least one anti-Israel event in New York City in 2025, during Israel's and America's war against Iran.
Barnett Zhao also participated in at least one event in 2025, organized by a politician in the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) chapter in the city (NYC-DSA). The event was in support of NYC-DSA member and mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani.
NYC-DSA is an anti-American and anti-Israel activist group. It celebrated the Hamas terror attacks of October 7, 2023, by holding a rally the next day.
As of October 2025, Barnett Zhao's LinkedIn profile said he had worked as a paralegal casehandler in the Employment Law Unit at The Legal Aid Society, located in New York, New York, since February 2023.
No War On Iran
Date: Jun. 18, 2025
Organizers: PYM NYC, People’s Forum, NYC PSL, Nodutdol, ANSWER, CODEPINK
Location: New York Public Library, New York, NY
On June 13, 2025, Israel attacked Iran's nuclear facilities after Israeli intelligence stated Iran was "within 15 days" of creating a nuclear bomb.
Israel conducted over 1,500 airstrikes in 12 days, destroying or damaging Iran's nuclear, military and ballistic missile infrastructure. Israel eliminated 11 nuclear scientists, over 30 senior military commanders and hundreds of IRGC members. The war was officially called "Operation Rising Lion."
Iran retaliated with 1,600 missiles and drones, of which Israel intercepted over 95 percent. Iran targeted military sites, civilian apartment buildings and a hospital. 28 Israelis were killed and 3,343 injured.
On June 22, 2025, the U.S. bombed five Iranian nuclear sites with bunker-buster bombs and cruise missiles, then brokered a June 24, 2025 ceasefire.
NYC-DSA Activism 2017-2025
Organizers: NYC-DSA
Location: New York, NY
NYC-DSA organizes pro-terror and anti-Israel rallies and disruptions, including an October 8, 2023, rally one day after Hamas killed 1,200 Israelis.
NYC-DSA uses social media to celebrate Hamas by using the 
symbol. In a speech posted to Instagram, co-chair Gustavo Gordillo said [00:01:41]: "They make figures like Hamas and, quote unquote, terrorists into effective enemies...The terror comes from the capitalists and their pawns...the terror comes from the fascist governments and their ICE squads."
NYC-DSA's social media also features activists promoting antisemitism and explicit calls for Israel's destruction. They have called to "dismantle" the entire "U.S. capitalist economy" and have promoted hatred of the police, along with demands that police be abolished and disarmed.
NYC-DSA has expressed support for violent criminals and promoted Marxist ideology. As early as 2016, NYC-DSA referred to the U.S. as the "United $nake$ of AmeriKKKa."
NYC-DSA has organized against the "U.S. war machine and imperialism" and expressed support for America's enemies, including Yemen under Houthi rule in 2024 and Iran during America and Israel's war in 2025. NYC-DSA has called to defund the police and U.S. prisons, as well as "dismantle capitalism" as part of its vision for a socialist revolution in America.
NYC-DSA has also canvassed and campaigned for NYC-DSA member and mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani.
