Jewish leaders and elected officials rallied a day after a Jewish man was stabbed on the Upper West Side, pleading for Mayor Zohran Mamdani to contain his rhetoric over Israel.
What You Need To Know
The suspect, Raul Morales, faces charges of weapons possession, as well as assault and attempted murder as hate crimes
Morales is accused of stabbing an Asian man and a Jewish man wearing a kippa
Investigators are looking into Morales’ mental health history
“Mayor Mamdani, stop fanning the flames of hatred and division. The consequences are not abstract,” Eric Goldstein, CEO of the UJA-Federation of New York, said.
Jewish leaders’ simmering frustration with Mamdani boiled over into criticism Friday.
“When the mayor of New York repeatedly uses his platform to relentlessly single out and demonize Israel — the world’s only Jewish state — and calls those who support it ‘monsters.’ He contributes to a climate in which Jewish New Yorkers are increasingly targeted and unsafe,” Goldstein said.
The suspect, Raul Morales, allegedly shouting “allahu ackbar” at the time of the stabbings. Police say Morales also stabbed an Asian man shortly prior.
“Words matter. Leadership matters. The climate we create matters,” Mark Treyger, CEO of Jewish Community Relations Council-NY, said.
Jewish leaders had also criticized Mamdani’s video denouncing Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and acknowledging that a mayor cannot legally have the NYPD arrest him.
Mamdani reiterated his vow to combat antisemitism in an interview with NY1.
“When anyone is perpetrating that kind of a bigotry, that kind of a hatred, they will be held fully accountable,” he said.
Mamdani also defended his focus as a mayor on Netanyahu over his alleged war crimes in Gaza
“They are criticisms of him as a political leader, not him of a specific faith, religion or background,” the mayor said.
Brad Lander, a progressive politician and one of Mamdani’s biggest Jewish allies, said Mamdani has put more funding into a hate crimes prevention office and has maintained meetings with Jewish leaders.
“All he’s getting back from people is don’t criticize Israel, and it does feel like that’s a lot of the response today,” Lander said. “The mayor has always and consistently made clear that no one should resort to violence. That’s wat I think all our goals should be – less stabbing and killing here in New York City, less bombing and killing in Palestine and Israel. There’s no inconsistency between those positions.”
The politicians at the rally avoided directly criticizing Mamdani.
Though Micah Lasher, who represents the Upper West Side in the state Capitol and had endorsed Mamdani for mayor, directly implored him to consider his words.
“I beseech all those in power, including our mayor, to hear our cry from the heart, to please help take the temperature down, and provide leadership that makes every New Yorker feel safe in this glorious city,” Lasher said.