New York mayor, Zohran Mamdani, to boycott largest Zionist gathering in world outside of Israel

Mamdani — New York’s (NY) annual Israel Day Parade on Fifth Avenue is the largest gathering of Zionists in the world outside of “Israel”. It has been held annually in the city for more than 60 years, and will take place on 31 May.

Mamdani: “I’ve made my views on the Israeli government abundantly clear”

Tens of thousands are expected to attend the event as New York has the largest Jewish community outside of Israel. But for the first time in its history, the parade will go ahead without the City’s mayor attending. Zohran Mamdani is honouring the pledge he made last year on his campaign trail, and is boycotting the event.

The Socialist Muslim mayor said at a press conference on 28 May:

I said on the campaign trail that I wouldn’t be attending the parade, and I’ve made my views on the Israeli government abundantly clear.

The event is organised by the Jewish Community Relations Council of New York (JCRC). They describe it as “a proud expression of Jewish identity and our enduring connection to the people of the State of Israel.” The Israeli occupation will send three ministers and 13 Knesset members to the parade. This, they say, will “send a message to New York’s Jewish community that the State of Israel is by their side.”

Mamdani says the Palestinian cause is central to his identity. He supports the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) campaign. He also openly speaks out against the genocide in Gaza, and the Israeli occupation’s apartheid in the West Bank.

We pay our electeds with our tax $$$ to represent us but they go on paid-for trips to Israel.

We have 3 letters for them: #BDS

Every elected must be pressured to stand with Palestinians, oppose Apartheid & assert that the fight for dignity knows no exception.#FreePalestine pic.twitter.com/xczCuhTnyn

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— Zohran Kwame Mamdani (@ZohranKMamdani) May 12, 2021

Mamdani also said he would arrest war criminal Netanyahu should he ever set foot in New York while he is mayor.

Mamdani accused of antisemitism for choosing not to attend Israel Day Parade

Predictably, following Mamdani’s election win, Zionists in New York accused him of antisemitism. This was because he called out Israeli occupation crimes, and US involvement in these. He has demanded an end to “New York’s subsidies of settler crimes” — crimes which are carried out to forcibly displace Palestinians and ethnically cleanse the West Bank. And he has spoken of US “law enforcement” learning counterterrorism tactics from the Israeli occupation military and police. These exchange programmes are often initiated by Jewish Zionist organisations.

Protest group End Jew Hatred recently held a demonstration outside Mamdani’s home. They held placards which read:

“AntiZionism is not a political position. AntiZionism is a hate movement”

Mamdani is now being called antisemitic, due to his refusal to take part in the Israel Day Parade.

VIDEO: Thousands gather outside Gracie Mansion on Manhattan’s Upper East Side, protesting New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani.

The protest is organized by the End Jew Hatred organization. pic.twitter.com/pX3HEOyPJU

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— Breaking 4 News (@Breaking_4_News) May 27, 2026

New York State Assembly member, Michael Novakhov, spoke at the rally. He said:

We will not stay silent in the face of antisemitism, Communism, and the dangerous pro-terrorist rhetoric coming from Zohran Mamdani.

Estimated 30 million Christian Zionists in US

The NY Israel Day Parade 2026 theme is “Proud Americans, proud Zionists”. Christian Zionists in the US are thought to number around 30 million. This figure is higher than the number of Jews throughout the world. Most Zionists in the US are conservative Evangelical Christians, the American religious group most likely to favour “Israel”. This is because they view Jewish presence there and the rebuilding of the temple in occupied Jerusalem as essential for the second coming of Jesus.

A powerful network of billionaire-funded Zionist lobbying groups and religious extremists drives America’s devastating role in oppressing Palestinians. They are dedicated to the advancement of political Zionism. And by weaponising millions of dollars they ensure the US government remains complicit in apartheid and war crimes against Palestinians.

One of these Zionist lobby groups is the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC). It wields huge legislative and political influence.

During the 2024 campaign trail, AIPAC, through its affiliated United Democracy Project, poured $100 million into supporting pro-Israel candidates and systematically targeting anti-Zionist ones. Those who spoke out for Palestinian liberation, called for a weapons embargo on the Israeli occupation, or opposed Zionist colonial expansion were targeted, smeared, and unseated.

By holding US politicians hostage to campaign donations, AIPAC guarantees a continuous flow of multibillion-dollar weapon shipments to “Israel”. These are then used in its countless war crimes around the Middle East, including occupied Palestine.

But public opinion about the terrorist state of Israel is changing in the US, as in the rest of the world. AIPAC’s role in American politics is becoming deeply controversial, especially with younger voters. Socialist, AIPAC critic, and Palestine rights advocate, Chris Rabb, was an outsider in the Democratic primary in Pennsylvania. But has just won, with 45 percent of the vote.

60 percent of US adults have an unfavourable view of “Israel”, up seven percent since 2025

A March 2025 poll from Gallup highlighted that only 46 percent of Americans support “Israel”. This is the lowest figure in 25 years of tracking. 33 percent expressed sympathy for Palestinians, a record high.

Recent polls confirm American support for the Zionist regime has fallen to historic lows. According to the Pew Research Centre, 60 percent of US adults have an unfavourable view of “Israel”. This figure is up from 53 percent in 2025. In those under the age of 50 the figure was 70 percent.

Another poll, from 2025, indicates that only 47 percent of Americans believe supporting Israel serves the US national interest. This figure has dropped from 69 percent in late 2023.

For decades, the political, financial, and ideological influence of Zionist advocacy went unquestioned in the US. And politicians showed unwavering support and loyalty to “Israel”. But the occupation’s ongoing genocide in Gaza, and apartheid system in the West Bank, has opened eyes. The blatant atrocities, lies, greed, and arrogance of the Zionist occupation are changing public consciousness.

Americans are now refusing to stay silent despite the influence of Zionist lobby groups such as AIPAC, and the inevitable “antisemitic” smear campaigns. This gives Palestinians hope for the future.

Featured image via Adam Gray/Getty Images

By Charlie Jaay

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