Mayor Mamdani skips Israel Day Parade, says New Yorkers' safety should not depend on his presence

NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK: Zohran Mamdani, the first New York City mayor since 1964 to skip the city’s annual Israel Day Parade, defended the move by saying the safety of Jewish New Yorkers should not depend on whether he attends the event.

The decision immediately sparked backlash from Jewish leaders and political critics, who accused Mamdani of turning a cultural celebration into a political statement amid rising concerns over antisemitism in the city.

Zohran Mamdani addresses decision to skip Israel Day Parade

Speaking alongside NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch during a security briefing on Thursday, May 28, Mamdani said he had been upfront during his campaign about not attending the parade because of his views on the Israeli government.

“You know, I said on the campaign trail that I wouldn’t be attending the parade, and I’ve made my views on the Israeli government abundantly clear,” Mamdani said. “And I also said on that same campaign that I would have a responsibility as the mayor of the city to ensure the safety and security of each and every New Yorker.”

He further added, “And I don't believe that my presence as the mayor should determine whether or not a New Yorker is safe or secure."

The annual celebration along Fifth Avenue draws tens of thousands of attendees, including Jewish community groups, students, and elected officials.

Jewish leaders respond to Zohran Mamdani's decision

Several Jewish leaders criticized Mamdani’s decision to skip Sunday's parade, arguing the event represents solidarity with Jewish New Yorkers rather than support for any specific Israeli government policy.

“It’s not a policy parade. It’s a Jewish people parade,” Rabbi Joseph Potasnik, executive director of the New York Board of Rabbis, told the New York Post. “He can march in the parade and have a different point of view [and] show respect for the Jewish people.”

Rabbi Marc Schneier, president of the Foundation for Ethnic Understanding, also criticized Mamdani in an op-ed published by the New York Daily News. “The mayor was elected to lead all of us. He has decided that some of us are not worth his time. That is his right. It is also our right to remember it.”

Mamdani’s absence stood in contrast to previous mayors, including Bill de Blasio and Eric Adams, both of whom attended the annual event while in office.

NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch details security plan

Tisch, who is Jewish and will serve as an honorary grand marshal during the parade, said she respected Mamdani’s decision but would attend herself.

“It is the mayor’s decision not to march, and it is my decision to march proudly,” Tisch said.

She also outlined what she described as the “most extensive security plan” the NYPD has ever prepared for the Israel Day Parade.

According to Tisch, the operation will include the largest number of officers ever assigned to the event, heavy weapons teams, expanded camera surveillance, and extensive security screening across the parade route.

“If you think you are too important to be screened, don’t come,” Tisch said. “There will be no exceptions.”

Zohran Mamdani's longstanding criticism of Israel

The 34-year-old mayor has long criticized Israel and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government, particularly over the conflict in Gaza after the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack.

During his campaign, Mamdani said he did not believe Israel should be a Jewish state, but rather “a state with equal rights.” He also previously suggested Netanyahu could face arrest if he visited New York City.

At the same time, the democratic socialist has maintained that he plans to participate in and host other events involving Jewish New Yorkers despite skipping the Israel Day Parade.

For supporters, the decision showed Mamdani sticking to positions he openly expressed before taking office. Critics, however, viewed the boycott as a symbolic snub toward one of New York City’s largest Jewish events.