New York City Mayor Eric Adams took a strong stance against anti-Israel protesters’ actions when they demonstrated outside of an Oct. 7 memorial for those lost in the Israeli Nova music festival massacre, calling it “pure antisemitism.”

The city’s top elected official prefaced his remarks by saying, “We must always protect the right to free speech,” but blasted those who held up Hezbollah and Hamas flags, both considered terrorist organizations by the United States, as well as protesters who carried a banner saying, “Long live October 7th.”