Socialist mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani was chased out of downtown Manhattan by an enraged protester who slammed him as an “antisemite” — and got into a shoving match with the politician’s staffer.
The Democratic nominee was ushered by security into his car as the irate man followed, demanding Mamdani denounce Hezbollah and Sharia, video shows.
Mamdani did not appear to acknowledge the man Friday as he raced out of Foley Square following a protest where he stood in support of state Attorney General Letitia James as she faces accusations of committing mortgage fraud.
At Foley Square, counter-protesters chased Zohran Mamdani, shouting “antisemite” and demanding he denounce Hezbollah and Sharia. His security intervened. Politics is turning ugly in NYC. pic.twitter.com/ruGMGppub5
— The US Ledger (@The_US_Ledger) October 11, 2025
“Antisemite! Denounce Sharia law! Denounce Hezbollah! You can’t do it!” the man can be heard shouting as he approaches the car.
“Walk the narrow or you’re going to jail with Tish!” the unidentified man, carrying what appears to be a Trump flag, screams before the car peels out of the area.
A member of Mamdani’s team intervened when the man walked too close to the black SUV and shoved him away just as the man screamed Mamdani is a “f–king rat.”
The protester got into a shoving match with the staffer until another Mamdani supporter peeled the employee away.
Public advocate Jumaane Williams, who was not engaged in the mayhem, approached the camera to capitalize on the attention.
“One of the good things is we’re out here to allow people like this to do this. In an authoritarian regime, they’d be thrown away, but we protect everybody — including them,” Williams says in the clip before throwing up a peace sign.
Socialist mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani was chased out of downtown Manhattan Friday by an enraged protester who slammed him as an “antisemite.” AP
The man was apparently demanding answers from Mamdani after he used the second anniversary of Hamas’ Oct. 7 terror attack to blast the Israeli government for launching a “genocidal war” in Gaza, for which the US “has been complicit through it all.”
Mamdani accused the Jewish state and Prime Minister Netanyahu of apartheid against the Palestinian people, drawing intense rage from both Democrats and Republicans.
The mayoral frontrunner, who did not immediately return a call for comment on the Foley Square incident, has been denounced for refusing to disavow his past use of the phrase “globalize the intifada” — but has taken great pains since to emphasize his support for Israel and denounce antisemitism.
The Democratic socialist was ushered by security into his car as the irate man followed and demanded he denounce Hezbollah and Sharia. FNTV
The confrontation came just moments after Mamdani defended James against the Trump administration, calling mortgage fraud accusations against her politically motivated vengeance.
“This is a blatant miscarriage of justice. This is a shameless act of political retribution,” Mamdani seethed about the federal charges of bank fraud and making a false statement to a financial institution unveiled Thursday against James.
“And instead of prosecuting Tish James for doing her job, Donald Trump should be doing his.”
James won a civil judgment against the president and Trump Organization last year for inflating the value of his real estate empire, leading to $355 million in penalties that were ultimately thrown out after an appeal and Trump’s white-hot ire.
Additional reporting by Rich Calder