NEW YORK, NY – A recent incident in Williamsburg, Brooklyn has led to the dismissal of Sarah Daoud, a Chicago-based licensed social worker, from Howard Brown Health. In October, Daoud was filmed removing posters depicting Israelis kidnapped by Hamas. The confrontation escalated when Daoud allegedly used derogatory language towards a Jewish man recording the event.
The posters depicted victims of a series of attacks by Hamas, which occurred on October 7, 2023. These attacks resulted in over 1,200 Israeli deaths, with hundreds kidnapped and thousands injured. The Israeli response, termed “Swords of Iron,” followed these attacks.
Daoud, identified on social media as a supporter of LGBTQ rights and a critic of police practices, faced further repercussions beyond her dismissal from Howard Brown Health. Her affiliation with the Point Foundation, a prominent LGBTQ scholarship nonprofit, was also terminated, as indicated by the removal of her profile from their website.
The incident, particularly poignant in Williamsburg’s predominantly Orthodox Jewish community, has raised concerns about the intersection of political activism and professional conduct.