DSA Member Openly Calls for Bombing of America's Iranian and Cuban Diaspora Communities
An apparent doctoral student at the University of Maryland called Iranian and Cuban diaspora communities "gusanos" (worms) and said that bombing their cities would make for a "better planet"
Djamil Lakhdar-Hamina, who is listed as a doctoral student on Cosmonaut and as a graduate student on the University of Maryland website, and has been publicly identified as a DSA member — has drawn condemnation from critics online after stating that parts of Los Angeles and Miami should be bombed, targeting the Iranian and Cuban diaspora communities who reside there.
Lakhdar-Hamina made the remarks during a video podcast stream alongside several other left-wing commentators, saying: "Just bomb parts of LA and Miami — it'd be a better planet for it."
He also called Iranians and Cubans in the diaspora "gusanos" — the slur meaning "worms" that Castro's regime weaponized against Cuban dissidents and exiles. The remarks were captured and published by Canary Mission, a watchdog organization that documents hatred and extremism on college campuses and beyond
Remarks Directed at Iranian and Cuban Diaspora Communities
The comments appear to have been directed at diaspora communities who had vocally cheered on recent U.S. and Israeli military strikes against Iran.
In the clip, Lakhdar-Hamina can be heard saying: "Seeing the Iranian diaspora just cheer on their country getting just bombed like what — there has to be an Olympic competition between the worst gusanos in the world. And on the podium competing for gold you have the Cubans on one side and the Iranians on the other, you know? Just bomb large swaths of LA and Miami — we'd be a better planet for it."
Los Angeles is home to one of the largest Iranian diaspora communities in the United States, while Miami is closely associated with the Cuban exile community. The word “gusano” — Spanish for “worm” — was used by Fidel Castro’s regime as a dehumanizing slur against Cuban exiles, dissidents, and others who fled communism.
Who Is Djamil Lakhdar-Hamina?
Lakhdar-Hamina is listed on the Central Committee of Cosmonaut, where “Communists can develop their vision, strategy, and overall critique of capitalist society.” He writes for the magazine on science, philosophy, and economics, and is an apparent DSA member.
According to his Cosmonaut profile, Lakhdar-Hamina works at the Joint Quantum Institute, which brings together researchers from the University of Maryland, the National Institute of Standards and Technology, and the Laboratory for Physical Sciences.
The Editor Who Amplified the Message
The clip was amplified by Donald Parkinson, identified by Cosmonaut as a contributing writer and listed on its Central Committee, who shared it with the caption: "No one cares, everyone hates you people now" — a post critics viewed as dismissive.
Parkinson also posted: "Damn, Canary Mission is now posting about anti-Iranianism and anti-Cubanism. Even Jewish organizations won't center fighting antisemitism anymore."
Parkinson has pinned to the top of his profile a quote from 19th century German socialist August Bebel: "I shall remain the mortal enemy of this society and social system, in order to sap its very life and, if I can, to eliminate it altogether."
Swift Backlash — and Silence From Institutions
The backlash was swift. Iranian-American activist and attorney Sam Yebri wrote: “DSA members want to murder Iranian-Americans and Cuban-Americans who have lived through the socialism and fascism they fetishize.” Others declared that the incident proved “the DSA is unambiguously in favor of terrorism.” The clip garnered over 22,000 views within hours of being posted.
Critics note that the DSA has a documented record of celebrating domestic terrorists, promoting antisemitism, and endorsing the BDS movement. The organisation's Marxist Unity Group — the caucus to which Parkinson, a confirmed member of its organizing committee, and several of his Cosmonaut colleagues belong — has openly stated its goal is to "rally thousands of Marxists in DSA around a shared vision," and has been pushing for years to transform the organisation into a more explicitly revolutionary Marxist party.
This guy just publicly called for mass murder. Under US free speech laws can he still be prosecuted?
A final solution for them. One question. Are any of them non-citizens? If any are not, revoke their visas and send them home. If they are citizens and university associated, end any financial assistance to the university programs they are associated with.