NEW YORK — New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani on Friday said support for terror groups has “no place in our city,” after a pro-Hamas protest in a Jewish neighborhood sparked outrage from other elected leaders.
Anti-Zionist activists chanted “We support Hamas,” “Death to the IDF,” “Intifada people’s war,” and other violent and discriminatory slogans during a Thursday night protest against an Israeli real estate event held at a synagogue in the Kew Gardens Hill neighborhood in Queens.
The protest also saw Jewish counter-protesters insult and taunt the anti-Zionist activists by shouting against the Palestinians, chanting in support of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and shouting “Fuck Mamdani.”
Mamdani’s initial statement did not single out either side, or mention antisemitism or Hamas.
“The rhetoric and displays that we saw and heard in Kew Gardens Hills last night are wrong and have no place in our city,” Mamdani said in a statement his spokesperson shared with The Times of Israel.
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“My team is in close touch with the NYPD regarding last night’s protest and counterprotest. We will continue to ensure New Yorkers’ safety entering and exiting houses of worship as well as the constitutional right to protest,” he said.
A follow-up comment posted to Mamdani’s social media was more explicit, saying, “Chants in support of a terrorist organization have no place in our city.”
As I said earlier today, chants in support of a terrorist organization have no place in our city. We will continue to ensure New Yorkers’ safety entering and exiting houses of worship as well as the constitutional right to protest. pic.twitter.com/0J4GXWigiv
— Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani (@NYCMayor) January 9, 2026
Mamdani is a far-left, anti-Israel activist who has alarmed many New York Jews with his anti-Israel statements and positions, such as his refusal to recognize Israel’s right to exist as a Jewish state. During his mayoral campaign, Mamdani sparked a firestorm of criticism by defending the phrase “Globalize the intifada,” seen by many Jews as support for terrorism, before later saying he would “discourage” the slogan.
In November, after a similar protest outside a Manhattan synagogue, Mamdani sparked an uproar by criticizing both the protesters, and the synagogue, which he said had violated international law by hosting an event by Nefesh B’nefesh, a group that facilitates Jewish immigration to Israel, and provides information to immigrants who seek to move to the West Bank.
Mamdani’s initial statement on Thursday’s protest came nearly 24 hours after the demonstration, at the end of the workday on Friday, and followed more forceful condemnations from nearly all of New York’s leadership, many of whom labeled the protest antisemitic and dangerous.
Some Jewish community members, such as State Assemblymember Sam Berger, who represents Kew Gardens Hills, had criticized Mamdani for not speaking out.
Kew Gardens Hills has a large Orthodox and Bukharan Jewish population. The protest took place next to a yeshiva and a public school, which both canceled after-school activities due to safety concerns.
Anti-Zionist protesters in New York City, January 8, 2026. (Luke Tress/Times of Israel)
New York Governor Kathy Hochul said, “Hamas is a terrorist organization that calls for the genocide of Jews. No matter your political beliefs, this type of rhetoric is disgusting, it’s dangerous, and it has no place in New York.”
US Representative Grace Meng, who represents the neighborhood in Congress, said, “Publicly and proudly declaring support for Hamas is vile antisemitism meant to intimidate the Jewish community. I strongly condemn it and stand against antisemitism, terrorism, and all forms of hate.”
Julie Menin, the Jewish, recently sworn-in New York City speaker, said that siding with Hamas “stokes fear and division.”
“I will continue to fight against vile antisemitism such as this, and I urge everyone to come together at this time to combat rising hatred in all its forms,” said Menin, whose powerful role in the city government could serve as a counterweight to Mamdani.
Both of New York’s senators in Congress, Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand, issued forceful condemnations, as did several New York House members, Congressional representatives from other states, and the Queens borough president.
Some Mamdani allies were more explicit in their criticism, including New York Attorney General Letitia James and Jewish Congressional candidate Brad Lander.
“Hamas is a terrorist organization. We do not support terrorists. Period,” James said.
“Let’s be crystal clear: this is vile antisemitism,” Lander said.
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