NYC Comptroller Brad Lander 'naps' at NAACP icon Hazel Dukes' funeral
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This Big Apple mayoral candidate may be woke – but he can’t stay awake.

Photos obtained by The Post show Socialist NYC Comptroller Brad Lander apparently dozing off during Tuesday’s memorial service for civil-rights champion Hazel Dukes.

The mayoral wannabe appeared to be on a Zzz train through the last half of the two-hour service that kicked off at 10 a.m. at Mother AME Zion Church in Harlem for Dukes, the former president of the NAACP New York State Conference who died Saturday at the age of 92, sources said.


Brad Lander speaking in front of news microphones
NYC Comptroller and mayoral candidate Brad Lander is his woke self in this photo, but he was caught on camera dozing off Tuesday during a Harlem memorial service for legendary civil-rights champion Hazel Dukes. Matthew McDermott

“I guess Brad isn’t so woke after all,” quipped a longtime NYC Democratic operative.

“It shows that the black constituency is just a prop for him, and not being able to stay awake for a funeral of a black icon shows you what you need to know about him as a human being,” the person added.

Multiple photos provided show Lander, 55, with his eyes sealed shut, sitting in a crowed pew.

The apparent slumber could put him into hibernation after the primary, one insider snarked.

“Not a good look at all – especially for someone sagging in the polls and courting the black vote,” said another Democratic operative.


Brad Lander sitting in a church during hazel dukes service, with his eyes closed
The early start time appears to be too much for Lander, who appears to be resting his eyes during Hazel Dukes’ memorial service. Obtained by the New York Post

Lander was among the more than 1,000 people who attended the service, which included NYC Mayor Eric Adams, the city’s second black mayor; ex-Gov. and fellow Democratic mayoral candidate Andrew Cuomo; Gov. Kathy Hochul and former First Lady Hillary Clinton.

Lander spokeswoman Dora Pekec insisted the comptroller wasn’t snoozing.

“It’s not exactly breaking news that some people close their eyes at spiritual events,” Pekec said. “Brad was deeply engaged and moved by the service, and it speaks volumes about someone that they would seek to exploit and lie about Ms. Dukes’ funeral service for their personal political gain.”

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