NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani to Skip Israel Day Parade, Drawing Sharp Criticism
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani will not attend the Israel Day Parade on May 31, becoming the first New York City mayor in decades to skip the event and drawing strong condemnation from Jewish leaders across the city.
The annual Israel Day parade is described as the largest pro-Israel gathering in the world, bringing together more than 40,000 marchers, including American and Israeli community leaders, dignitaries, and entertainers. For decades, attendance by the mayor was expected rather than controversial, with every New York City mayor from both parties, including Rudy Giuliani, Michael Bloomberg, and Bill de Blasio, taking part. The tradition dates back to the 1960s.
The parade, which typically draws tens of thousands along Fifth Avenue, celebrates U.S.-Israel ties and Jewish life in the city. This year’s theme is “Proud Americans, Proud Zionists.”
A record Israeli Knesset delegation is expected to attend, and a Muslim group will march for the first time.
Mamdani has not framed the decision as a boycott. “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,” he said. “I’ve been very clear: I believe in equal rights for all people, everywhere.”
Brooklyn Republican Assemblyman Michael Novakhov called the move “a disgraceful insult to New York’s Jewish community,” adding that Mamdani is prioritizing “appeasing radical antisemitic extremists” over Jewish New Yorkers.
Former Mayor Rudy Giuliani said Mamdani’s decision “demonstrates his deep disdain and hatred of the Jewish community.”
GOP gubernatorial candidate Bruce Blakeman, who is Jewish and serves as Nassau County executive, also criticized Mamdani, saying he has “dropped the mask and shown his true colors of antisemitism.” Blakeman added that while Jewish New Yorkers are “being terrorized in the streets by radicals,” Mamdani is “choosing to side with them.”
