NEW YORK – Mayor Zohran Mamdani on Tuesday unveiled a wide-ranging plan to combat antisemitism and hate crimes targeting Jewish New Yorkers, seeking to ease concerns from critics who view his repeated condemnations of Israel as antisemitic.
The initiative calls for more security funding for synagogues, greater attention to Jewish history in public schools and a commitment to spotlight significant Jewish cultural and religious sites as part of the mayor’s routine governance of New York City.
Mamdani said the plan’s central aim is to “confront the scourge of antisemitism now and in the future.” Jewish people account for about 12% of New York City’s population but are victims in roughly half of the hate crimes reported in the city, he noted.
“This is not only unacceptable, it’s something we all have an obligation to change. And City Hall will lead the way,” he said in a video.
Mamdani, a Democrat and New York City’s first Muslim mayor, has been a prominent advocate for Palestinian civil rights and has accused the Israeli government of committing genocide in Gaza. He has maintained that criticizing Israel is not antisemitic. Opponents, however, say his forceful rhetoric about the conflict has contributed to Jewish New Yorkers feeling unsafe.
Tuesday’s announcement represents Mamdani’s most significant effort yet to address concerns about antisemitism among members of the Jewish community. The mayor pledged to “build a city where Jewish New Yorkers are not only safe but celebrated.”
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City Hall will increase grant funding for community organizations dedicated to preventing hate crimes and supporting survivors. The administration also plans to work with public schools on complaints of discrimination and launch public awareness campaigns explaining New York City’s human rights law and how residents can report suspected discrimination.
During his campaign last year, Mamdani faced intense criticism after declining to disavow the phrase “globalize the intifada,” which some interpret as a call for violence against Israeli civilians. Mamdani did not use the phrase and later said he would discourage others from using it.
He has also been questioned about his decision in June to skip an annual parade honoring Israel, an event that has traditionally drawn politicians from across the city.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu devoted part of a speech at the United Nations last week to criticizing Mamdani, accusing him of spreading lies about Israel and referring to him as “the antisemitic mayor of New York.”
Mamdani has repeatedly called for Netanyahu’s arrest under an International Criminal Court warrant alleging war crimes in Gaza. More than 73,000 people have been killed there since the prime minister launched a devastating war in response to the Hamas-led attacks of Oct. 7, 2023.
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