New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani will not attend the city’s annual parade celebrating Israel on Sunday, breaking with a decades-long tradition observed by New York mayors and other elected officials due to his support for Palestinian rights.
Mamdani confirmed the decision during a public safety briefing this week, saying he pledged during his mayoral campaign that he would not participate in the parade because of his views on the Israeli government.
Recommended Stories
He stressed, however, that the city, home to the largest Jewish population outside Israel, would provide extensive security for the event and ensure it proceeds safely.
“While I will not be attending, our administration has been preparing for weeks to ensure the parade is safe for all those who take part,” he said.
The annual parade along Manhattan’s Fifth Avenue has long been considered a mandatory stop for New York politicians. The event celebrates Israel’s founding in 1948 and typically draws tens of thousands of participants, spectators, and political leaders.
According to local reports, Mamdani is believed to be the first sitting New York City mayor in more than six decades to skip the event for political reasons.
The decision has drawn criticism from some Jewish leaders and pro-Israel advocates who argue the parade is a celebration of Jewish identity and solidarity rather than an endorsement of any particular Israeli government.
Rabbi Marc Schneier criticized the move, calling it a “slap in the face” to Jewish New Yorkers, while former Mayor Eric Adams said he planned to attend the parade and voiced support for the city’s Jewish community.
Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch, who is Jewish, appeared alongside Mamdani during the briefing and said she would participate in the parade.
“It is the mayor’s decision not to march, and it is my decision to march proudly,” Tisch said.
IRAN NEGOTIATES WITH ONE HAND AND FIRES MISSILES WITH THE OTHER
The controversy comes amid heightened tensions surrounding the Israel-Hamas war and growing debate within Democratic politics over U.S. support for Israel. Mamdani, a socialist and longtime advocate for Palestinian rights, has frequently criticized the Israeli government and policies and previously supported boycott efforts targeting Israel.
Earlier this month, the mayor’s office released a video commemorating Nakba Day, which recognizes the displacement of approximately 700,000 Palestinians during the 1948 Arab-Israeli war. The video prompted backlash from some Jewish organizations and elected officials who accused the administration of presenting a one-sided account of history.
