A radical pro-North Korea rally in Harlem, endorsed by the New York Democratic Socialists of America (DSA), has glorified a brutal regime while chanting “Death to imperialism," as the New York Post reports, leading to new scrutiny over New York City mayoral hopeful Zohran Mamdani's ties to the group.
From July 25 to 27, the People’s Summit for Korea, held at Riverside Church, drew over 500 attendees to push for Korean reunification under Kim Jong Un’s communist rule. The event, backed by the DSA’s New York chapter, featured fiery anti-American rhetoric and demands to end U.S. military and economic influence in Korea. Zohran Mamdani, a DSA-linked state assemblyman and NYC mayoral candidate, didn’t attend but remains tied to the group’s controversial stance.
The summit’s organizers, including nonprofits funded by Shanghai-based billionaire Neville Singham, leaned hard into revolutionary fervor. Their rhetoric echoed North Korean propaganda, painting the U.S. as the ultimate imperialist villain. This isn’t just fringe posturing -- it’s a deliberate embrace of a regime that starves and tortures its people.
Chants of “Death to imperialism” rang out, targeting U.S. policies in Korea. Speakers, including Brian Becker of the ANSWER Coalition, railed against America’s global influence. Becker’s claim that the U.S. “demonizes” North Korea conveniently ignores the regime’s prison camps and widespread starvation.
“One of the problems that we face in the United States is the nonstop demonization and caricaturing of the DPRK,” Becker said. His words dismiss the reality of North Korea’s atrocities, where 40% of the population was undernourished in 2024, per Amnesty International. It’s a bold rewrite of history to paint a dictator’s paradise as a victim.
The summit didn’t stop at rhetoric -- it included a demonstration near Times Square on July 27, amplifying calls to dismantle U.S. influence. Networking workshops aimed to build pro-North Korean student movements on U.S. campuses. This push to radicalize youth under the guise of “anti-imperialism” is a calculated move to spread divisive ideology.
The DSA’s International Committee was listed among Marxist groups supporting the summit. Their endorsement lends legitimacy to an event glorifying a regime that punishes citizens with torture for accessing foreign media. It’s a baffling choice for a group tied to mainstream figures like Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.
Mamdani’s association with the DSA raises questions about his judgment, even if he skipped the event. “What does it tell New York’s Chinese and Korean immigrants who fled to the city to get away from oppressive regimes?” asked veteran political strategist Hank Sheinkopf. His question cuts deep, exposing the disconnect between the DSA’s rhetoric and the lived experiences of those escaping tyranny.
“What does it say to [others] who fled here because of repressive regimes?” Sheinkopf added. The DSA’s backing of this summit sends a chilling message to immigrants who know firsthand the horrors of authoritarianism. It’s a betrayal dressed up as progressivism.
Brian Becker, a keynote speaker, doubled down on revolutionary zeal. “What happens here in the belly of the beast, in the center of imperialism, would make all the difference in the world … for those yearning to take the socialist path,” he said. His vision of socialism conveniently aligns with North Korea’s oppressive playbook.
The summit’s ties to the Party for Socialism and Liberation, linked to Becker, add another layer of concern. The group’s alleged connection to Elias Rodriguez, who killed two Israeli Embassy workers in May, underscores the dangerous undercurrents of this movement. Radicalism isn’t just talk -- it can inspire deadly action.
Betsy Yoon, a City University of New York professor and Nodutdol board member, spoke at the summit, advocating for Korean reunification and U.S. troop withdrawal. Having led delegations to North Korea since 2011, her involvement lends academic cover to a regime that thrives on propaganda. It’s a troubling use of scholarly influence.
The summit’s organizers, including Singham-funded groups like the People’s Forum, have a history of radical activism, including anti-Israel protests after the 2023 Hamas attacks. The ANSWER Coalition’s links to Students for Justice in Palestine and American Muslims for Palestine, groups tied to Hamas and Iran, raise red flags. This isn’t just about Korea -- it’s a network of anti-American agendas.
“Palestinians increasingly see the movement in North Korea as similar to their own, as both are engaged in battles to dismantle a US imperialist outpost,” said Tamar G. of the Palestinian Youth Movement. Her statement reveals a dangerous conflation of unrelated struggles, weaponizing one cause to prop up another. It’s a tactic that thrives on distortion, not truth.
The Network Contagion Research Institute warned that the summit “promoted revolutionary rhetoric and narratives closely aligned with North Korean state propaganda.” Their report called out the DSA’s formal endorsement, noting its “ideological proximity to foreign adversaries.” When a group tied to American politicians cozies up to a dictator’s talking points, it’s time to sound the alarm.
