On June 17, 2024, a troubling incident occurred at 75th and Broadway in New York City involving Sam Long and Ronit Pinto, the founders of Honeysuckle Magazine. The duo assaulted women advocating for Palestinian rights. This incident has sparked widespread outrage and has had significant repercussions.
The altercation was captured on video and initially shared on Instagram. The video, which quickly went viral on several online platforms, shows Sam Long and Ronit Pinto engaged in a physical confrontation with multiple women. According to the caption accompanying the video, the women were assaulted while removing Zionist propaganda.
In the footage, Sam Long is seen grabbing the scarf of one woman, who was dressed in black with a red scarf, and engaging in a fight with her. Ronit Pinto joined in the altercation, kicking another woman, who was wearing a keffiyeh over her face, in the ribs after Long put her in a chokehold and pushed her down. The confrontation seemed to revolve around the women removing propaganda that Long and Pinto were trying to reclaim. Witnesses recorded the incident but did not intervene, and one of the victims’ phones was broken during the altercation.
Cannabiziac, a Black women-founded and led corporation, has responded to the incident by removing Ronit Pinto from speaking at their upcoming event and from their advisory board. Cannabiziac promotes inclusivity, peace, and equity, and in light of recent events, they reaffirmed their commitment to integrity and respect by distancing themselves from Pinto.
Honeysuckle Media, Inc., the media firm established by Sam Long and Ronit Pinto, is known for producing content on racial politics, social justice, gender and sexuality, cultural issues, and cannabis-related topics. The company has gained a reputation for its bold and unfiltered approach to storytelling and its commitment to addressing taboo subjects. A reputation now sullied.
Sam Long, a filmmaker, photographer, and visual artist, serves as the Creative Director of Honeysuckle Magazine. Ronit Pinto, a filmmaker, journalist, and publisher, founded Honeysuckle Magazine with a mission to address important social issues through media.