Victoria Ruiz is a former New York City public defender lawyer who resigned from her position after being caught on camera tearing down posters of Israeli hostages kidnapped by Hamas terrorists. Ruiz’s actions sparked outrage and condemnation from various groups and individuals, including her employer, the White House, and the Jewish community. Here is everything you need to know about Victoria Ruiz and the controversy surrounding her.
Who is Victoria Ruiz?
Victoria Ruiz is a 31-year-old lawyer who worked as a public defender for the New York County Defender Services (NYCDS), a non-profit organization that provides free legal representation to indigent criminal defendants in Manhattan. Ruiz graduated from the University of California Hastings College of the Law in 2022 and was admitted to the New York State Bar in the same year. According to her LinkedIn profile, Ruiz joined the NYCDS in September 2022 and worked as a staff attorney until her resignation in November 2023.
Ruiz describes herself as a “passionate advocate for social justice and human rights” on her Twitter account, which has been deactivated since the incident. Ruiz also identifies as a Latina and a queer woman, and has expressed support for various progressive causes and movements, such as Black Lives Matter, LGBTQ+ rights, and immigration reform.
What did Victoria Ruiz do?
On November 5, 2023, Ruiz was filmed by a bystander tearing down posters of Israeli hostages kidnapped by Hamas terrorists during the October 7, 2023 attack in Israel. The posters were part of a campaign by the Israeli Consulate in New York to raise awareness and demand the release of the four hostages, who are two children, a pregnant woman, and a soldier. The posters featured the photos and names of the hostages, along with the hashtag #BringThemHome.
New York woman Victoria Ruiz has RESIGNED from her job as an NYC public defender after being filmed tearing down posters of kidnapped Israelis.
— Oli London (@OliLondonTV) November 8, 2023
The NY County Public Defenders office came under mounting pressure to drop her and she has now resigned.
pic.twitter.com/V0LM2M56qM
Ruiz was seen ripping off the posters from a bus stop in Midtown Manhattan and throwing them on the ground, while ignoring the questions and protests of the person filming her. The person asked Ruiz why she was taking down pictures of missing children and babies, and accused her of being anti-Semitic and supporting terrorism. Ruiz did not respond to the person and walked away after removing several posters.
The video of Victoria Ruiz’s actions was posted on Twitter by StopAntisemitism, a watchdog group that monitors and exposes anti-Semitism in the US. The group also identified Ruiz as a New York County public defender and tagged her employer, the NYCDS, in the tweet. The video quickly went viral and received over 2 million views and thousands of comments, mostly criticizing and condemning Ruiz for her behavior.
What was the reaction to Victoria Ruiz’s actions?
Ruiz’s actions sparked a wave of outrage and condemnation from various groups and individuals, who denounced her as insensitive, hateful, and unprofessional. Some of the reactions are as follows:
- The NYCDS, Ruiz’s employer, issued a statement on November 6, 2023, saying that they “strongly condemn” Ruiz’s actions as “highly insensitive” and that they have accepted her resignation with immediate effect. The statement also said that Ruiz has apologized to “those who were hurt or confused by her actions” and that the organization will conduct an internal review and refocus on its mission of achieving justice and dignity for its clients.
- The White House press secretary, Karine Jean-Pierre, also condemned Ruiz’s actions on November 7, 2023, saying that “tearing down pictures of their loved ones – who are being held hostage by Hamas – is wrong and hurtful”. Jean-Pierre also reiterated the US government’s support for Israel and its efforts to secure the release of the hostages.
- The Israeli Consul General in New York, Israel Nitzan, expressed his disappointment and dismay at Ruiz’s actions, saying that they were “shocking and unacceptable”. Nitzan also thanked the NYCDS for taking swift action and accepting Ruiz’s resignation, and urged the public to show solidarity and compassion for the hostages and their families.
- The Anti-Defamation League (ADL), a leading Jewish civil rights organization, also denounced Ruiz’s actions as “appalling and disgraceful”, and called for her to be held accountable for her “anti-Israel and anti-Semitic” behavior. The ADL also praised the NYCDS for its “responsible and appropriate” response, and urged other public officials and institutions to follow its example and reject any form of hatred and bigotry.
- The American Jewish Committee (AJC), another prominent Jewish advocacy group, also slammed Ruiz’s actions as “outrageous and reprehensible”, and said that they reflect a “deep-seated animosity” towards Israel and the Jewish people. The AJC also commended the NYCDS for its “swift and decisive” action, and called on the New York State Bar Association to investigate Ruiz’s conduct and take disciplinary action against her.
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What is the current status of Victoria Ruiz?
As of November 9, 2023, Victoria Ruiz is no longer employed by the NYCDS and has resigned from her position as a public defender lawyer. Ruiz has also deactivated her Twitter account and has not made any public statements or apologies since the incident. It is unclear whether Ruiz will face any legal or professional consequences for her actions, or whether she will continue to practice law in the future.
What is the current status of the Israeli hostages?
As of November 9, 2023, the four Israeli hostages kidnapped by Hamas terrorists on October 7, 2023, are still being held captive and their fate is unknown. The hostages are:
- Yael Cohen, a 28-year-old pregnant woman who was visiting her parents in Sderot, a town near the Gaza border, when she was abducted by Hamas militants who infiltrated Israel through a tunnel.
- Eitan Cohen, a 6-year-old boy who is Yael’s son and was also kidnapped along with his mother.
- Noa Cohen, a 4-year-old girl who is Yael’s daughter and was also kidnapped along with her mother and brother.
- Omer Dahan, a 23-year-old soldier who was guarding a bus station in Beersheba, a city in southern Israel, when he was attacked and kidnapped by Hamas militants who disguised themselves as civilians.
The kidnapping of the four Israelis was part of a coordinated terror attack by Hamas, the Islamist militant group that controls the Gaza Strip, that also involved rocket fire, suicide bombings, and shootings across Israel. The attack killed 17 Israelis and wounded over 100 others, and was the deadliest and most brazen assault by Hamas since the 2014 Gaza war.
Israel has launched a massive military and diplomatic campaign to rescue the hostages and bring them home safely. Israel has also vowed to hold Hamas accountable for its actions and to prevent any future attacks. Israel has received widespread support and sympathy from the international community, including the US, the EU, the UN, and many Arab and Muslim countries, who have condemned Hamas’ terrorism and called for the immediate and unconditional release of the hostages.
