{"id":92746,"date":"2026-05-31T18:37:03","date_gmt":"2026-05-31T23:37:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.crescentcityjewishnews.com\/blog\/?p=92746"},"modified":"2026-06-05T15:41:29","modified_gmt":"2026-06-05T20:41:29","slug":"mayor-mamdani-missed-the-israel-day-parade-many-who-went-didnt-miss-him","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.crescentcityjewishnews.com\/blog\/mayor-mamdani-missed-the-israel-day-parade-many-who-went-didnt-miss-him\/","title":{"rendered":"Mayor Mamdani missed the Israel Day Parade. Many who went didn\u2019t miss him."},"content":{"rendered":"

By GRACE GILSON<\/p>\n

(New York Jewish Week<\/em> via JTA) \u2014 The energy was palpable Sunday as thousands packed a dozen blocks of Fifth Avenue waving Israeli flags for New York\u2019s annual Israel Day Parade. Organizers said the turnout was the largest in the event\u2019s six-decade history.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Thousands of Jewish and Israeli Americans participate in the annual Israeli Day Parade, the world’s largest pro-Israel parade, on May 31, 2026, in New York City. (Spencer Platt\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

The procession featured its usual mix of Jewish nonprofits, schools and synagogues marching to blaring Israeli music alongside parade floats sponsored by groups including Nefesh B\u2019Nefesh, the UJA Federation of New York and the Maccabiah Games.<\/p>\n

But this year\u2019s parade, which was themed \u201cProud Americans, Proud Zionists,\u201d unfolded amid growing political polarization over Israel and without New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, who became the first mayor in decades to skip the event.<\/p>\n

For all the criticism Mamdani has received over his campaign pledge not to attend the event, many of those who did turn out told the Jewish Telegraphic Agency they were glad he wasn\u2019t there.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe doesn\u2019t like us,\u201d said Andrea Roman, who attended the parade wearing an Israeli flag cape and thought it was \u201cgood\u201d that Mamdani hadn\u2019t come. \u201cWhy should you be some place where you don\u2019t like? He does not promote peace. This promotes peace, but of course he\u2019s not going to be here.\u201d<\/p>\n

Jeremy Bell, 39, also said wasn\u2019t bothered by the mayor\u2019s absence \u2013 and that there were many more who felt as he did.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Marchers in the Israeli Day Parade carry cardobard cutouts of New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani and Rama Duwaji, the first lady of New York City, on May 31, 2026. (Grace Gilson)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t think that he was really wanted here,\u201d Bell said, adding, \u201cI don\u2019t want to be here with someone who doesn\u2019t believe in our right to exist and obviously associates with people that don\u2019t have our best interests in mind.\u201d<\/p>\n

Despite Mamdani\u2019s absence, the event, known as the largest pro-Israel parade in the world, featured a lengthy roster of political officials and lawmakers. New York Gov. Kathy Hochul, New York Attorney General Letitia James, U.S. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and U.S. Rep. Jerry Nadler were among those in attendance, as were former New York City Mayors Eric Adams and Mike Bloomberg.<\/p>\n

NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch, who on Thursday said that security preparations for the parade would be \u201cthe most extensive\u201d that the NYPD had ever put together, also joined the festivities as an honorary grand marshal.<\/p>\n

While many paradegoers said that they never considered staying home because of security concerns, several said they appreciated the presence of thousands of police officers and extensive barricades that blocked the streets surrounding the event.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Police stand by barricades during the annual Israel Day Parade on Fifth Avenue in New York City on May 31, 2026. (Grace Gilson)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\u201cWe are grateful that tens of thousands of participants and spectators were able to gather safely and proudly in the heart of New York City,\u201d Mitchell Silber, the CEO of the Community Security Initiative, said in a statement. \u201cToday\u2019s success reflects the extraordinary planning, coordination, and professionalism of the NYPD and our law enforcement partners.\u201d<\/p>\n

That number was boosted in some cases by participants who said the mayor\u2019s decision to skip the event factored into their own decision to come.<\/p>\n

Karene Hermon, 22, said that while previously she would have been more \u201cneutral\u201d about attending, hearing that Mamdani had chosen not to come drove her to \u201cbe with my people.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI think it sends the wrong message,\u201d Hermon said of the mayor\u2019s refusal to participate. \u201cI think we\u2019re trying to come together, not separate people, regardless of \u2026 how you feel about a cause.\u201d<\/p>\n

First-time paradegoer Luis Margules travelled to the march from Pennsylvania. He said that he had come because it felt like \u201ca moment to be with Israel.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is my first parade, but I think this year it\u2019s one of the most important ones,\u201d Margules said. \u201cI think the world doesn\u2019t understand the situation with Iran and the Palestinians, and everything is blamed on Israel.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ofir Akunis, the consul general of Israel in New York, said in a statement that the parade \u201cdelivered a resounding answer to all those who hate Israel.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThis year\u2019s parade was an unprecedented demonstration of strength by New York\u2019s Jewish community and the people of Israel,\u201d Akunis said. \u201cIt sends a clear and unequivocal message: We are here to stay, and we are not going anywhere.\u201d<\/p>\n

But not all of the spectators Sunday were there in support.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Protesters demonstrate against the presence of Israeli Knesset members in the Israel Day parade in New York City on May 31, 2026. (Spencer Platt\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

While there was no large-scale protest visible during the parade, roughly 25 people demonstrated along the route to oppose the inclusion of a record delegation of roughly 10 Israeli Knesset members, including far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and two members of National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir\u2019s ultra-nationalist Otzma Yehudit party.<\/p>\n

As the delegation passed the demonstration, which was organized by the progressive groups Israelis for Peace and Friends of Standing Together New York, protesters shouted \u201cshame\u201d and \u201cwar criminals,\u201d according to Tamar Glezerman, an organizer for Israelis for Peace.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe were there to protest against the Israeli Knesset delegation, the largest of its size of all of the parades, that sent members of the coalition and the so-called opposition to do hasbara and march victoriously up a New York avenue,\u201d Glezerman told JTA in a phone interview Sunday, using the Hebrew word for public relations.<\/p>\n

While the focus of the demonstration centered on opposing the Knesset delegation, Glezerman added that \u201ca parade that very much champions unexamined, unchecked and non-critical support of Israel is perhaps important for people here. It is not good for Israelis. It sure as hell isn\u2019t good for Palestinians.\u201d<\/p>\n

Margules, in contrast, said that seeing the Israeli Knesset members pass by had made him feel \u201cproud.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s good to know that even in these dark times we can still be together without violence, and we can disagree on many things, but we have to agree on something,\u201d Margules said. \u201cWe are here because Israel exists.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Share