A former youth organizer and Brooklyn resident was arrested this week after allegedly inciting violence against Jewish students at a New York City public high school via social media.

Iman Abdul, 27, was taken into custody on Aug. 8 for allegedly encouraging her Instagram followers to “attack” Leon M. Goldstein High School, prompting multiple felony charges from law enforcement and condemnation from Jewish advocacy groups.

Authorities said Abdul, who previously campaigned for Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and State Sen. Julia Salazar, posted inflammatory messages on Instagram targeting the secular high school located on the Kingsborough Community College campus in Brooklyn.

Inflammatory Post Sparks Swift Police Action

The Instagram post, shared with Abdul’s more than 25,000 followers, included a screenshot of Leon M. Goldstein High School’s location on Google Maps. The caption accused the student body of being supporters of Israel and referred to them with derogatory language, suggesting they had all taken part in the Birthright Israel program.

The NYPD’s intelligence division and Commissioner Jessica Tisch were quickly notified. Authorities viewed the post as a credible concern and acted swiftly, arresting Abdul the same day and charging her with several offenses, including making a terroristic threat and aggravated harassment.

Law enforcement also charged Abdul with acting in a manner injurious to a child and making a threat of mass harm. Each of the charges reflects the nature and potential impact of the post on the roughly 998 students enrolled at the school, according to public records.

Community Outrage and National Backlash

Jewish advocacy organizations voiced strong reactions to the incident. The watchdog group StopAntisemitism shared the post on X, formerly known as Twitter, labeling it as antisemitic and demanding full legal accountability for the threats directed at students.

“This incitement against Jews, specifically minor children, must be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law,” the group said in a public statement.

DOE pre-K staffer and Jewish activist Tova Plaut described the post as “evil,” stating that using a map and pin to call for harm against children crosses a dangerous line. “I am outraged and horrified that a NYC school was publicly marked for attack simply because of its Jewish population,” she said.

Former Youth Organizer Denies Intent for Harm

In a direct message shared publicly, Abdul defended her actions, stating her call for an “attack” referred to a verbal critique of the school’s alleged support for Zionism, rather than a call for physical violence.

“I never called for an attack on the school in the sense of mass organization or not even individual people attacking individuals, that’s stupid,” Abdul wrote, adding that the aim was to target the institution rather than individuals.

Following the widespread backlash, Abdul’s Instagram and LinkedIn profiles were taken down. Screenshots and recordings of her now-deleted messages continued circulating online, some garnering hundreds of thousands of views.

Background on the School and Past Activism

Leon M. Goldstein High School offers secular education and includes student-led groups such as the Israel Club, which provides opportunities for students to celebrate Jewish holidays and learn about Israeli culture.

Supporters of the school pointed to the enriching and inclusive environment it fosters, arguing that such online rhetoric against it misrepresents its mission and student population.

Abdul previously worked as a paid canvasser for State Sen. Salazar during the 2018 Democratic primaries and participated in Rep. Ocasio-Cortez’s campaign. In a 2019 interview, she identified herself as a City College of New York student triple-majoring in childhood education, sociology, and Latino studies, and also served as a director at the youth education group IntegrateNYC.

Critics Link Rising Tensions to Public Institutions

Some critics pointed to broader ideological influences in the city and university environments. Moshe Spern, president of United Jewish Teachers, claimed that incidents like these are fueled by ongoing university protests and curricula that normalize antisemitic rhetoric.

“This kind of hate stems from years of indoctrination from CUNY and NYC schools – it isn’t born overnight,” Spern said, referencing demonstrations that have occurred over the past nearly two years on university campuses.

Israel advocate Uri Cohen also criticized Abdul’s former Instagram activity, saying her account was filled with similar antisemitic content and lacked oversight before deletion. A screen recording of the original post reportedly gathered more than 500,000 views on social media.

Heightened Concerns About Safety in Schools

The incident comes amid heightened concerns regarding antisemitic sentiment and safety in public education environments. Many parents, educators, and organizations have called for stronger protections and monitoring of online threats aimed at school communities.

Local officials have not announced whether additional security measures will be implemented at Goldstein HS. However, the NYPD’s early intervention following the report indicates a broader commitment to swiftly addressing extremist threats online.

It remains uncertain whether Abdul will face further state or federal charges. Her legal representation has not released a public statement regarding the case.