Letters to the Editor discuss concerns over an NYC public-school teacher named Damien Neva who praised Hamas leader Yahya al-Sinwar in a chat group, raising questions about his suitability to teach students. Readers call for the Education Secretary Linda McMahon to address extremism in schools and criticize Neva's presence as detrimental to proper education.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-10-06,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
Damien Neva, a 48-year-old former fashion photographer turned teacher at PS 77 in Park Slope, Brooklyn, returned to school after being accused of praising Yahya Al-Sinwar, the leader of Hamas responsible for the October 7 attack on Israel that killed about 1,200 people and kidnapped over 250 others. Parents and community members expressed outrage, demanding Neva's firing due to his alleged pro-Hamas views revealed in a lawsuit. The allegations stem from a group chat where Neva reportedly wrote "Long live Yahya Al-Sinwar." Critics argue that such sentiments make him unfit for teaching, as praising terrorists suggests condoning violence against innocent people. Educational officials are investigating the claims.
Written for “Hamas Loving Teacher Controversy” on 2026-10-06,
grounded in this article and the 2 other(s) covering the same event.
Why this leaning score
The article's own words the score was based on. Each is quoted
verbatim and was checked against the article text before being
stored, so you can find it in the original.
Leaning: leans strongly right for article 61026 (high confidence, 2 verified quotes) · logged 2026-10-06
The Issue: NYC public-school teacher Damien Neva praising a Hamas Oct. 7 leader in a Signal group chat.
asserted
Neva → praise → chat
How Damien Neva was approved to teach in PS77 raises serious questions (“Devil in the classroom,” Oct. 5).
asserted
approved → approve → classroom
The Department of Education and the school’s principal failed to assess his suitability to teach impressionable kids in public school.
asserted
Department → fail → school
Did he plan to teach both sides of the Gaza and Hamas tragedy?
asserted
he → plan → tragedy
Anyone who praises a cruel terrorist like Yahya al-Sinwar could never conduct a fair and objective discussion with students about differing points of view.
uncertain
who → praise → view
Mel Young
West Dover, Vt.
Paging Education Secretary Linda McMahon — isn’t it your job to fix this mess?
asserted
it → page → mess
If she was hired to clean up and root out all the extremism being taught in schools across the United States, then she’s AWOL.
asserted
she → hire → States
Nothing is ever done to correct this kind of stuff.
asserted
Nothing → do → stuff
Can someone alert the Education Department to please fix our schools?
asserted
someone → alert → schools
And here’s a thought: Could the voters stop voting for the people who allow this to continue?
uncertain
this → ’ → people
This slimeball misanthrope found a spot in New York City’s educational system.
asserted
misanthrope → find → system
I’m sure there are many more just like him because we know the stench of his behavior and those in the universities are quite common.
asserted
stench → ’m → universities
This Neva character has the audacity to laud a guy who would behead him in a New York second.
asserted
who → have → second
As for his tenure as a teacher that we as taxpayers pay for, it’s time to send this fetid cretin packing.
asserted
it → pay → packing
Students need fundamentals, not hateful rhetoric from some loser.
asserted
Students → need → loser
Lessons that should be learned: Hamas sympathizers should not be piloting planes, nor should they be teaching our children.
asserted
they → learn → children
The consequences could lead to death, something terrorists specialize in.
uncertain
terrorists → lead → death
The Issue: Murderer Christa Pike receiving lifesaving care after surviving two failed execution attempts.
asserted
Pike → receive → attempts
Because her execution failed, Christa Pike was severely injured and is now in the hospital in intensive care, hanging on by a thread for dear life (“Take her off death row: att’y,” Oct. 6).
asserted
Pike → fail → row
Instead of bringing this chilling episode to an overdue end by medicating her and permitting her to die a comfortable death, doctors are doing their best to save her.
asserted
doctors → bring → her
I imagine Tennessee wants her saved so that it can kill her properly.
asserted
it → imagine → her
Bob Heier
Estero, Fla.
A Tennessee inmate was hospitalized after a botched execution and is now being widely portrayed sympathetically.
asserted
inmate → hospitalize → execution
This is cruel and unusual punishment to the victim’s family, who anguish endlessly while the killer is portrayed as a victim.
asserted
killer → anguish → victim
If the death penalty were eliminated, states could quit wasting taxpayers’ time and money.
uncertain
states → eliminate → time
Killers would not be guaranteed costly protection and privileges for decades; they would be thrown into the general prison population and live the rest of their lives in fear of psychos worse than they are.
asserted
they → guarantee → psychos
This is the Democrats’ twisted beliefs in action: A botched abortion?
asserted
This → botch → action
The Aporia
