New York Parade Celebrates Israel Without Mayor Mamdani

The annual parade celebrating Israel took place in New York City on Sunday. Notably absent was Mayor Zohran Mamdani, who chose not to attend. Instead, Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch, along with political leaders like Governor Kathy Hochul and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, participated in the event.

The Israel Day parade is a significant event for many political figures, who gather on Fifth Avenue with crowds to honor the Jewish state. Mayor Mamdani, in a news conference, confirmed his decision not to attend. He stated, “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.”

The mayor’s absence broke a tradition of New York mayors attending the event. Commissioner Tisch, who is Jewish, expressed her pride in marching at the parade, standing by her decision at the news conference.

Criticism followed Mamdani’s decision. Bruce Blakeman, a Republican gubernatorial candidate, labeled the mayor as “anti-Israel.” Blakeman also accused Mamdani of weakening the definition of antisemitism and being vocal against Israel.

Blakeman remarked that Mayor Mamdani often overlooks issues in countries with poor human rights records like Iran, Russia, and China. He commented, “We don’t want to see him marching here, because we don’t want a wolf in sheep’s clothing marching in our parade.”

Israeli Ambassador to the United Nations, Danny Danon, highlighted the parade’s success despite the mayor’s absence. Danon stated, “While the mayor chose to boycott the event and turn his back on tens of thousands of Jews and supporters of Israel, the public came in droves to prove that the connection to Israel is stronger than any political campaign.”

A large turnout demonstrated strong support for Israel, reinforcing the community’s connection to the city. Danon asserted, “No one will make us take down the Israeli flag. Not in New York, nor anywhere else in the world.”

Governor Hochul and Senator Schumer, joined by state Attorney General Leticia James, were also present at the parade. Schumer addressed the crowd, highlighting a worrying rise in antisemitism, saying, “And now we are seeing an ugly resurgence of antisemitism across the world, driven by the same lies and libels that have tormented the Jewish people for generations.” He emphasized the continuing importance of a Jewish state amid the ongoing threat of antisemitism.