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New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, known for his Democratic-Socialist stance, is facing criticism from Jewish communities due to his choice to skip the city’s notable Israel Day Parade. This decision comes at a time when the city is grappling with unprecedented levels of antisemitism.
New York City, which boasts the largest Jewish population outside of Israel, considers the annual parade a significant expression of unity with both the Jewish state and its local Jewish community. In a move reflecting discontent, two of the city’s leading Jewish organizations declined an invitation to a Jewish heritage event at Gracie Mansion, citing Mamdani’s recent absence from the parade as the reason.
“Since the inaugural Israel Parade in 1964, every sitting Mayor of New York City has participated in this celebratory event. This tradition underscores the city’s enduring bond with Israel. By not attending, it seems to disregard New York City’s historical ties,” commented Moshe Davis, former Executive Director of the Mayor’s Office to Combat Antisemitism under Mayor Adams, in a statement to Fox News Digital.
Participants proudly wave flags during the Celebrate Israel Parade on Fifth Avenue on June 2nd, 2024, in New York City. This parade holds particular significance as it is the first since the October 7, 2023, incidents in Israel, centering on the hostages still held by Hamas. (Roy Rochlin/Getty Images)
Despite the rising antisemitism and a series of anti-Israel protests targeting synagogues and Jewish institutions throughout the city, Mayor Mamdani confirmed earlier this month that he would not attend the event. Organizers anticipate that the parade on May 31st will see a record turnout as a reaction to the mayor’s decision.
While the mayor had previously indicated during an Oct. 2025 interview with the Jewish Telegraphic Agency that he would likely not attend as a matter of political principle, his renewed public confirmation has led to growing criticism.
Fox News Digital reached out to Mayor Mamdani’s office regarding the criticism from Jewish leaders over not attending the parade and were referred by his spokesman to a statement he had given to the Jewish Telegraphic Agency.
Pro-Palestinian protestors try enter the Brooklyn Museum, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas in Gaza, in the Brooklyn borough of New York City, May 31, 2024. (Eduardo Munoz/Reuters)
“I look forward to joining and hosting many community events celebrating Jewish life in New York and the rich Jewish history and culture of our city. While I will not be attending the Israel Day Parade, my lack of attendance should not be mistaken for a refusal to provide security or the necessary permits for its safety. I’ve been very clear: I believe in equal rights for all people everywhere. That principle guides me consistently.”
Community leaders say the decision breaks with decades of bipartisan tradition in a city where participation in the parade has long been viewed as both symbolic and expected.
Democratic New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani is once again raising eyebrows, this time over a resurfaced clip in which he says, “Israel is not a place, it is not a country.” (REUTERS/Jeenah Moon and iStock)
Despite the mayor declining the invitation, New York Governor Kathy Hochul spokesperson confirmed to Fox News Digital that she will participate in the parade.
Organizers say this year’s event is expected to feature more marching groups than ever before, driven not only by support for Israel but also by concern over rising antisemitism.
One person associated with the parade told Fox News Digital the event is expected to be “safer at the parade than in your own home,” citing extensive security coordination surrounding this year’s march.
Still, much of the conversation surrounding the parade has centered on Mamdani’s absence.
During his mayoral campaign, Mamdani suggested he would likely “miss a lot” of New York City’s traditional parades due to his political views, while evaluating appearances “case-by-case.”
The then New York City Mayor Eric Adams marches up 5th Avenue in Midtown during the Israel Parade on June 4, 2023 in New York City. (ohn Lamparski/Getty Images)
Critics argue the Israel Day Parade is not simply another political event, but a longstanding civic tradition closely tied to New York City’s Jewish identity and history.
“The Israel Day Parade is a testament to one of New York City’s most important relationships. From healthcare to technology to innovation, Israel and New York City are partners in building a better future. I want every New Yorker to join the Parade on Fifth Avenue because celebrating this bond isn’t just for the Jewish community, it’s for our entire city,” former Mayor of New York City Eric Adams told Fox News Digital.
Anti-Israel activists protest outside the United Nations headquarters in New York, on April 7, 2025. (Selcuk Acar/Anadolu via Getty Images)
The controversy surrounding Mamdani has also widened beyond the parade itself, with the UJA Federation of New York and the Jewish Community Relations Council of New York declining to attend his first Jewish Heritage event for the upcoming Jewish holiday of Shavuot at Gracie Mansion, stating they would not participate in an event hosted by a mayor who “denies the core pillar of our heritage, the State of Israel as the homeland of the Jewish people.”
At the event, Mamdani acknowledged the scale of antisemitism facing the city’s Jewish population, stating, “Jewish New Yorkers, accounting for just nearly 12% of our city’s population, are also the targets of more than 50% of all hate crimes.”
He also announced a proposed $26 million annual investment toward expanding hate crime prevention efforts under the city’s Office for the Prevention of Hate Crimes. Details of the proposal were not clear at how he would tackle antisemitism at time of publication.
Ambassador Rabbi Yehuda Kaploun, Trump’s special envoy to monitor and combat antisemitism, told Fox News Digital when asked about Mamdani’s position that, “It is important we recognize the need for leaders to uphold their responsibility to protect religious freedom and refrain from making incendiary comments that contribute to the rise of antisemitism. Leaders who fail to do so bear responsibility for the increase in antisemitic activity.”
This year’s parade is also expected to feature expanded interfaith participation. In a first for the event’s 61-year history, some Muslim groups are slated to march alongside Jewish organizations, in addition to expanded participation from Asian American groups and others.