For the first time since 1964, New York City’s mayor will not attend the Israel Day Parade, a decision that critics say amounts to siding with antisemitic radicals terrorizing Jewish neighborhoods across the five boroughs.
Mayor Zohran Mamdani confirmed earlier this month that he would skip the historic event, breaking a tradition honored by every sitting mayor for more than six decades. The announcement has drawn fierce condemnation from Jewish organizations and Republican leaders who say Mamdani is abandoning the largest Jewish population outside of Israel at a moment when they need support most.
“Mamdani’s decision to snub the Israeli Day Parade demonstrates his deep disdain and hatred of the Jewish community,” former Mayor Rudy Giuliani told The New York Post.
The mayor’s boycott comes as New York grapples with what officials describe as record levels of antisemitism. For weeks, anti-Israel demonstrators have gathered outside synagogues and Jewish communal institutions, creating an atmosphere of fear for residents who have called the city home for generations.
Jewish New Yorkers have long viewed the annual parade as a vital public display of solidarity, both with Israel and with their own community. The event dates back to 1964, and every mayor since has participated in the festivities.
Moshe Davis, who served as executive director of the mayor’s office to Combat Antisemitism under Mayor Eric Adams, made clear just how significant the break with tradition is.
“Since the very first Israel Parade in 1964, every single sitting Mayor of New York City has joined in the festive celebrations. New York has historically been proud of its deep relationship with Israel. Not joining the parade is an affront to the history of New York City,” Davis told Fox News.
Mamdani defended his decision in a statement, insisting his absence should not be interpreted as abandoning the Jewish community entirely.
“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,” the mayor said.
Republican gubernatorial candidate Bruce Blakeman, who is Jewish, rejected Mamdani’s explanation outright. He accused the mayor of revealing his true stance toward the Jewish community. “While Jewish New Yorkers are being terrorized in the streets and attacked by radicals waving the inverted red triangle, the same symbol Hamas uses to mark targets for execution, the sitting mayor has chosen to side with them,” Blakeman said.
Blakeman continued his blistering criticism, calling the parade a half-century symbol of unity that Mamdani is deliberately destroying. “Mamdani is shattering that tradition to signal support for those who want Israel off the map and Jews out of New York,” he said. He added that the mayor has “dropped the mask and shown his true colors of antisemitism.”
The controversy highlights growing tensions in New York City, where Jewish residents have increasingly reported feeling unsafe in their own neighborhoods. With demonstrations targeting synagogues and community centers showing no signs of slowing, Mamdani’s decision to skip the parade sends a message that critics say Jewish families will not soon forget.
The Israel Day Parade remains scheduled to proceed with city permits and security in place, according to the mayor’s statement.
