Mahmoud R Musa
Overview
Mahmoud R. Musa was sentenced to seven years in prison after pleading guilty for assaulting a Jewish man in a 2021 mob attack during a violent anti-Israel counterprotest. The attack occurred on May 20, 2021, in New York, New York. He was sentenced on November 21, 2023.
Musa glorified [00:19:45] terrorists and called [00:25:01] for Israel’s destruction as he joined in a rally organized by Within Our Lifetime (WOL), an activist group in New York City founded by Nerdeen Kiswani. WOL’s “Points of Unity” states: “We defend the right of Palestinians as colonized people to resist the zionist occupation by any means necessary.”
In 2018, Musa was also reportedly charged with attempted robbery, criminal possession of a weapon, criminal use of a firearm, assault, and harassment after participating in the shooting and attempted robbery of a man in a car in West Brighton, Staten Island, New York.
On November 21, 2023, a Manhattan Supreme Court judge reportedly sentenced Musa to seven years in prison for his role in the crime.
Musa’s sentence reportedly also took into account that he was “arrested again while being held at the Rikers Island jail for allegedly touching the breast of a correction officer.”
As Musa was being escorted out of the courtroom after his sentencing hearing, he reportedly shouted: “Free Palestine! Free Palestine!”
Musa reportedly turned himself in for his role in the assault of the aforementioned Jewish man, Joseph Borgen, at Manhattan’s 7th Precinct on June 8, 2021.
Anti-Israel activists Waseem Awawdeh, Mohammed Othman and Faisal Elezzi also participated in the attack on Borgen and were charged with multiple hate crimes.
As of January 17, 2023, Musa, who also goes by Moody Musa, was listed as one of five defendants in a civil lawsuit brought by Borgen. The other defendants were Awawdeh, Elezzi, Othman and a minor with the initials “K.A.”
The Complaint stated [p. 5] that the defendants “punched, kicked, pepper sprayed him, and otherwise assaulted Mr. Borgen just because he was Jewish (and visibly so), causing great pain and serious physical damage to him, requiring surgery. The widely publicized attack left Jews around the country feeling scared just to engage in normal activities publicly, let alone advocacy for Israel, out of fear that they too could be targeted and hurt by these Antisemitic gangs.”
When interviewed by the New York Daily News after the attack, Borgen reported that his attackers appeared at the corner of W. 48th St. and Seventh Ave. Borgen said: “All of a sudden, I turn around and see someone chasing me.”
Borgen added: “They hit me with fists, kicked me, hit me with crutches, hit me with signs ... They were saying, ‘You dirty Jew, f--- Israel, go back to your country!’”
Following the attack, Borgen reportedly had a concussion and said: “I felt a liquid being poured on my face, and at first I thought I was getting urinated on…”
Borgen continued: “But it turned out I was getting Maced and pepper-sprayed. My face was on fire. That pain was worse than the concussion and all this other stuff that followed.”
Borgen added: “... I have bruises all over my body. I have a black eye. My face is banged up. I’m just sore all over my body. They were kicking me in my ribs, my stomach.”
Upon Musa’s release on bail on June 9, 2021, he appeared in a Twitter video, being greeted [00:00:02] and cheered by other violent anti-Israel activists, including Awawdeh and Saadah Masoud, who were also out on bail.
Musa’s friends and co-activists wore black and white-patterned keffiyehs and many were dressed [00:00:25] in black Red Lions t-shirts bearing a map of Israel and the words: “Free Palestine” [00:00:13] in red lettering.
As Musa modeled [00:00:05] a Red Lions t-shirt, draped on his neck as a cape and said: “free Palestine,” Musa’s friends responded [00:00:02]: “Talk that s**t! Talk that s**t, Lion! You know that s**t!” and [00:00:10] “Yeah, Moody, look at that s**t!"
The May 20, 2021 counterprotest occurred during Israel’s Operation Guardian of the Walls(OGW) in Gaza.
In May 2021, Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) terrorists fired over 4,300 rockets from Gaza at major population centers in Israel. Israel responded by launching OGW, carrying out targeted military strikes in Gaza.
During the May 20, 2021 rally, Musa appeared [00:08:17] waving a Palestinian flag while facing a police barrier. Musa masked his face with a black and white keffiyeh wrapped around his face. Musa also wore [00:08:17] grey sweatpants, a white, long-sleeved jersey with dark sleeves and a light blue sling on his right arm.
That same day, other anti-Israel activists also shot fireworks and spit at people.
Later on May 20, 2021, Musa also appeared [00:00:28] near an anti-Israel mob that verbally assaulted and spat at diners at a Manhattan restaurant.
As police on motorcycles could be seen coming up on the rear of the mob, Musa appeared center-screen in a Twitter video of the event, among those walking by the altercation, Musa was wearing [00:00:28] a white jersey with dark-colored long sleeves, with a black balaclava mask and keffiyeh hiding his face.
On May 21, 2021, Within Our Lifetime (WOL), a New York-based anti-Israel activist group, posted two Instagram posts that offered legal support and advice to anyone arrested. The posts also portrayed the assailants as victims.
WOL’s “Points of Unity” states [point 3]: “We defend the right of Palestinians as colonized people to resist the zionist occupation by any means necessary.”
The rally was held in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn and was titled: “Nakba 73. Defend Palestine!”
Musa also spoke [slide 2] through a microphone as he participated in the rally.
As Musa marched at the front of the protest, he chanted [00:19:45]: “لا اله الا الله والشهيد حبيب الله [There is no God but Allah and the Martyr is a Beloved of Allah].”
Musa then chanted [00:23:00]: “Gaza, Gaza, don’t you cry! Palestine will never die!” He also chanted [00:23:28]: “One, two, three, four, we don’t want your bloody war! Five, six, seven, eight, stop the killing, stop the hate!”
Musa continued [00:24:04]: “Israel is a terrorist state! Israel is a terrorist state!” He later chanted [00:25:01]: “From the River to the Sea, Palestine Will Be Free!”
At the rally, activist Fatima Mousa Mohammed addressed the crowd and said [00:22:45]: “... I would like to extend my greetings to those that made today possible. From ‘48 [1948] to this very day. I want to send my peace to the revolutionaries of ‘48 and the revolutionaries since that day until today.”
Mohammed continued and said [00:23:20]: “To every revolutionary picking up a rock… We hear you and we are pained by your pain!”
At the protest, anti-Israel protesters held signs that said [00:06:21]: “Zionists are Nazis” and [00:06:40]: “F**k Israel. All my homies hate Israel. #FreePalestine.”
The next day, WOL posted on Instagram a photo that showed [slide 5] Musa at the center of the screen with his right fist raised.
The victim told police that he was sitting in the driver’s seat when two unknown males entered the rear of the vehicle and attempted to rob him at gunpoint.
A struggle ensued and one of the suspects fired a gun, striking the victim before both suspects fled on foot.
Authorities reportedly alleged that Musa was the accomplice of the suspect who fired multiple shots from the firearm and struck the victim’s leg. The victim suffered a gunshot wound, fracture and cut to his leg, extensive blood loss and substantial pain.
On October 4, 2018, Musa was taken into custody, according to police, and charged with attempted robbery, criminal possession of a weapon, criminal use of a firearm, assault and harassment.
When violent anti-Israel activist Mahmoud R. Musa was released from prison on June 9, 2021, he appeared [00:00:01] in a Twitter video with a Red Lions t-shirt draped on his back. Musa said [00:00:03], “Free Palestine,” and then Masoud said: “talk that s**t lions!” Musa was greeted [00:00:17] by several other people in Red Lions t-shirts. He then hugged [00:00:21] Masoud, who wore a Red Lions t-shirt.
In 2018, Musa was also reportedly charged with attempted robbery, criminal possession of a weapon, criminal use of a firearm, assault, and harassment after participating in the shooting and attempted robbery of a man in a car in West Brighton, Staten Island, New York.
In 2021, Musa was affiliated [00:00:05] with the Red Lions, an anti-Israel group led by violent, convicted felon Saadah Masoud.
For more information, see the Canary Mission page Within Our Lifetime: The NYC Org Inciting Its Activists To Violence.
Nov 2023 - Sentenced: 7 Years for Assault as Hate Crime
In October 2023, Musa reportedly pleaded guilty to charges of “second-degree assault as a hate crime” in a mob attack on a Jewish man during a May 20, 2021, violent counterprotest at a pro-Israel rally in Times Square, New York.On November 21, 2023, a Manhattan Supreme Court judge reportedly sentenced Musa to seven years in prison for his role in the crime.
Musa’s sentence reportedly also took into account that he was “arrested again while being held at the Rikers Island jail for allegedly touching the breast of a correction officer.”
As Musa was being escorted out of the courtroom after his sentencing hearing, he reportedly shouted: “Free Palestine! Free Palestine!”
May 20, 2021 - Arrested for Assaulting a Jewish Man
Musa was arrested and charged with gang assault and assault as a hate crime after he repeatedly kicked [00:00:01] a Jewish man during a May 20, 2021 violent counterprotest against a pro-Israel rally in Times Square. In a Twitter video, Musa appeared [00:00:11] in the center of the video wearing a white, long-sleeved jersey with dark sleeves, with a black and white keffiyeh hiding his face.Musa reportedly turned himself in for his role in the assault of the aforementioned Jewish man, Joseph Borgen, at Manhattan’s 7th Precinct on June 8, 2021.
Anti-Israel activists Waseem Awawdeh, Mohammed Othman and Faisal Elezzi also participated in the attack on Borgen and were charged with multiple hate crimes.
As of January 17, 2023, Musa, who also goes by Moody Musa, was listed as one of five defendants in a civil lawsuit brought by Borgen. The other defendants were Awawdeh, Elezzi, Othman and a minor with the initials “K.A.”
The Complaint stated [p. 5] that the defendants “punched, kicked, pepper sprayed him, and otherwise assaulted Mr. Borgen just because he was Jewish (and visibly so), causing great pain and serious physical damage to him, requiring surgery. The widely publicized attack left Jews around the country feeling scared just to engage in normal activities publicly, let alone advocacy for Israel, out of fear that they too could be targeted and hurt by these Antisemitic gangs.”
When interviewed by the New York Daily News after the attack, Borgen reported that his attackers appeared at the corner of W. 48th St. and Seventh Ave. Borgen said: “All of a sudden, I turn around and see someone chasing me.”
Borgen added: “They hit me with fists, kicked me, hit me with crutches, hit me with signs ... They were saying, ‘You dirty Jew, f--- Israel, go back to your country!’”
Following the attack, Borgen reportedly had a concussion and said: “I felt a liquid being poured on my face, and at first I thought I was getting urinated on…”
Borgen continued: “But it turned out I was getting Maced and pepper-sprayed. My face was on fire. That pain was worse than the concussion and all this other stuff that followed.”
Borgen added: “... I have bruises all over my body. I have a black eye. My face is banged up. I’m just sore all over my body. They were kicking me in my ribs, my stomach.”
Upon Musa’s release on bail on June 9, 2021, he appeared in a Twitter video, being greeted [00:00:02] and cheered by other violent anti-Israel activists, including Awawdeh and Saadah Masoud, who were also out on bail.
Musa’s friends and co-activists wore black and white-patterned keffiyehs and many were dressed [00:00:25] in black Red Lions t-shirts bearing a map of Israel and the words: “Free Palestine” [00:00:13] in red lettering.
As Musa modeled [00:00:05] a Red Lions t-shirt, draped on his neck as a cape and said: “free Palestine,” Musa’s friends responded [00:00:02]: “Talk that s**t! Talk that s**t, Lion! You know that s**t!” and [00:00:10] “Yeah, Moody, look at that s**t!"
The May 20, 2021 counterprotest occurred during Israel’s Operation Guardian of the Walls(OGW) in Gaza.
In May 2021, Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) terrorists fired over 4,300 rockets from Gaza at major population centers in Israel. Israel responded by launching OGW, carrying out targeted military strikes in Gaza.
During the May 20, 2021 rally, Musa appeared [00:08:17] waving a Palestinian flag while facing a police barrier. Musa masked his face with a black and white keffiyeh wrapped around his face. Musa also wore [00:08:17] grey sweatpants, a white, long-sleeved jersey with dark sleeves and a light blue sling on his right arm.
During the rally, anti-Israel activists pushed against a police barricade erected to separate the two groups. The anti-Israel side breached the barricade and marched toward the pro-Israel side where they verbally assaulted the pro-Israel activists. Separate videos showed some anti-Israel activists also stealing Israeli flags from pro-Israel activists.
The anti-Israel activists then moved back to their side of the barricade where some of them chanted at the Israel supporters: “Nazis! Nazis!”
Also during the rally, after demonstrators threw projectiles, police removed the barricade it had installed and proceeded to arrest several anti-Israel activists. Police declared the assembly to be “unlawful” and demanded that the crowd disperse or be arrested. Despite police warnings, some rioters reportedly continued to throw projectiles at police while others fled the scene.
Also during the rally, after demonstrators threw projectiles, police removed the barricade it had installed and proceeded to arrest several anti-Israel activists. Police declared the assembly to be “unlawful” and demanded that the crowd disperse or be arrested. Despite police warnings, some rioters reportedly continued to throw projectiles at police while others fled the scene.
That same day, other anti-Israel activists also shot fireworks and spit at people.
Later on May 20, 2021, Musa also appeared [00:00:28] near an anti-Israel mob that verbally assaulted and spat at diners at a Manhattan restaurant.
As police on motorcycles could be seen coming up on the rear of the mob, Musa appeared center-screen in a Twitter video of the event, among those walking by the altercation, Musa was wearing [00:00:28] a white jersey with dark-colored long sleeves, with a black balaclava mask and keffiyeh hiding his face.
On May 21, 2021, Within Our Lifetime (WOL), a New York-based anti-Israel activist group, posted two Instagram posts that offered legal support and advice to anyone arrested. The posts also portrayed the assailants as victims.
WOL’s “Points of Unity” states [point 3]: “We defend the right of Palestinians as colonized people to resist the zionist occupation by any means necessary.”
May 15, 2021 - Glorifying Terrorists at a WOL Rally
Musa glorified [00:19:45] terrorists and called [00:25:01] for Israel’s destruction as he chanted in a May 15, 2021 WOL rally during OGW. Musa appeared [00:19:45] at the center of the screen with his right fist raised while wearing a black and white keffiyeh around his head. He could also be seen [00:25:07] on the left side of the screen.The rally was held in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn and was titled: “Nakba 73. Defend Palestine!”
The term “Nakba” is generally translated as “catastrophe” in Arabic, referring to the outcome of the 1948 Arab-Israeli War. It is a term often used to delegitimize the creation of the State of Israel by defining it as a catastrophe.
Musa also spoke [slide 2] through a microphone as he participated in the rally.
As Musa marched at the front of the protest, he chanted [00:19:45]: “لا اله الا الله والشهيد حبيب الله [There is no God but Allah and the Martyr is a Beloved of Allah].”
Musa then chanted [00:23:00]: “Gaza, Gaza, don’t you cry! Palestine will never die!” He also chanted [00:23:28]: “One, two, three, four, we don’t want your bloody war! Five, six, seven, eight, stop the killing, stop the hate!”
Musa continued [00:24:04]: “Israel is a terrorist state! Israel is a terrorist state!” He later chanted [00:25:01]: “From the River to the Sea, Palestine Will Be Free!”
“From the River to the Sea, Palestine will be free” is a chant calling to dismantle the State of Israel. It has also been employed by Hamas leader Khaled Mashal to call for the replacement of Israel with an Islamic state.
At the rally, activist Fatima Mousa Mohammed addressed the crowd and said [00:22:45]: “... I would like to extend my greetings to those that made today possible. From ‘48 [1948] to this very day. I want to send my peace to the revolutionaries of ‘48 and the revolutionaries since that day until today.”
Mohammed continued and said [00:23:20]: “To every revolutionary picking up a rock… We hear you and we are pained by your pain!”
At the protest, anti-Israel protesters held signs that said [00:06:21]: “Zionists are Nazis” and [00:06:40]: “F**k Israel. All my homies hate Israel. #FreePalestine.”
The next day, WOL posted on Instagram a photo that showed [slide 5] Musa at the center of the screen with his right fist raised.
October 4, 2018 - Attempting Armed Robbery
In 2018, Musa reportedly participated in the shooting and attempted robbery of a man in a car in West Brighton, Staten Island.The victim told police that he was sitting in the driver’s seat when two unknown males entered the rear of the vehicle and attempted to rob him at gunpoint.
A struggle ensued and one of the suspects fired a gun, striking the victim before both suspects fled on foot.
Authorities reportedly alleged that Musa was the accomplice of the suspect who fired multiple shots from the firearm and struck the victim’s leg. The victim suffered a gunshot wound, fracture and cut to his leg, extensive blood loss and substantial pain.
On October 4, 2018, Musa was taken into custody, according to police, and charged with attempted robbery, criminal possession of a weapon, criminal use of a firearm, assault and harassment.
Red Lions
The Red Lions is an anti-Israel group led by activist Saadah Masoud, a violent convicted criminal. He has promoted [00:52:04] violence against Israel supporters in his Red Lions activism.
In a July 2021 interview, Masoud discussed [00:24:48] how he founded the Red Lions as an “idea” for “anybody who has the heart to speak up against injustice” and how he gave [00:25:22] “Red Lions” t-shirts he made to people he felt lived up to this standard.
Red Lions activists have participated [slide 4] in multiple Within Our Lifetime (WOL) protests in New York City. At WOL protests, Red Lions activists [00:01:43] have expressed [00:17:58] hatred of Israelis, promoted [00:06:11] incitement and ripped [00:00:41] and burned [00:01:25] an Israeli flag.
In a July 2021 interview, Masoud discussed [00:24:48] how he founded the Red Lions as an “idea” for “anybody who has the heart to speak up against injustice” and how he gave [00:25:22] “Red Lions” t-shirts he made to people he felt lived up to this standard.
Red Lions activists have participated [slide 4] in multiple Within Our Lifetime (WOL) protests in New York City. At WOL protests, Red Lions activists [00:01:43] have expressed [00:17:58] hatred of Israelis, promoted [00:06:11] incitement and ripped [00:00:41] and burned [00:01:25] an Israeli flag.
When violent anti-Israel activist Mahmoud R. Musa was released from prison on June 9, 2021, he appeared [00:00:01] in a Twitter video with a Red Lions t-shirt draped on his back. Musa said [00:00:03], “Free Palestine,” and then Masoud said: “talk that s**t lions!” Musa was greeted [00:00:17] by several other people in Red Lions t-shirts. He then hugged [00:00:21] Masoud, who wore a Red Lions t-shirt.
WOL
Within Our Lifetime (WOL) is a pro-terror activist group in New York City dedicated to Israel’s destruction within the lifetime of its members.Acts of violence and physical confrontations with police have frequently occurred at WOL protests and marches. WOL uses harassment campaigns to target pro-Israel organizations or companies that do business with Israel, making it a part of the Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) movement.
Multiple activists who have either burned Israeli flags or led chants at WOL rallies were later jailed for violent anti-Semitic hate crimes, including Saadah Masoud and Waseem Awawdeh. In Masoud’s case, he received 18 months in jail for an anti-Semitic assault at an April 2022 WOL rally and two other anti-Semitic assaults in 2021.
WOL promotes “resistance” against Israel “by any means necessary,” calls to “Globalize the Intifada,” spreads incitement and idolizes [00:34:06] Palestinian terrorists like Leila Khaled and others at rallies and online events.
WOL was founded by Nerdeen Kiswani and Dan Cione in 2015. Kiswani is a frequent speaker at WOL rallies where she has promoted terrorism against Israelis and called for the death of Zionists. She has also provided support for Masoud and other activists following their arrests.
WOL began as the New York City chapter of Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP), going by NYC SJP, but changed its name in 2018. The group is not found to be registered in any U.S. state as a nonprofit organization under its official name. Nor is there any listing for WOL under its name on the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) website for tax-exempt organizations.
- Status:
- Unknown
- University:
- Organizations:
- Red Lions,
- WOL
- Related Profiles:
- Last Modified:
- 05/04/2026
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