Protesters call for Mamdani’s removal, express concerns about antisemitism

NEW YORK – On Tuesday night, hundreds of protesters waving Israeli and American flags gathered just steps away from Gracie Mansion on Manhattan’s Upper East Side to rally against Democratic Mayor Zohran Mamdani.

Speakers at the rally accused the mayor of failing to protect the city’s Jewish population and ignoring antisemitism. The protest featured a long list of speakers, including former “Big Time Rush” star James Maslow, artist Scott LoBaido, Lawfare Project founder Brooke Goldstein, as well as pro-Israel activists.

The rally was organized by #EndJewHatred, a grassroots group focused on combating antisemitism.

In between speeches, the crowd chanted “Raise Mamdani” and “USA, USA” and sang “The Star-Spangled Banner.”

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“This is not the New York City I know and love,” entrepreneur and outspoken pro-Israel advocate Ari Ackerman told Fox News Digital.

“There’s a different ideology coming into the hands of the guy who lives in that house over there,” he continued, pointing to Gracie Mansion, “and it’s not good. It changed everything.”

Mamdani’s friction with the city’s Jewish community became apparent during his campaign; some questioned his stance against Israel, his refusal to condemn the phrase “globalize the intifada”, and his ties to activists such as Hasan Piker and Mahmoud Khalil.

Anti-Semitic incidents have increased in New York since Hamas’ attacks on Israel on October 7, 2023. Recently, there have been anti-Israel protests in front of Jewish institutions and synagogues.

With tensions running high since he took office in January, many Jewish New Yorkers say they feel unsafe in their city. New York City is home to the world’s largest Jewish population outside of Israel.

Some speakers argued that the mayor’s rhetoric and actions reflected a deeper failure to combat antisemitism.

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Influencer Zach Sage Fox addresses a protest against New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani on May 26, 2026. (Rachel Wolf/Fox News Digital)

Rabbi Yaakov Menken, vice president of the Coalition for Jewish Values, told Fox News Digital that antisemitism has existed for thousands of years, but he believes Mamdani represents its modern form.

“Rabbis have been studying antisemitism for thousands of years. We know what it is, we know how to recognize it, and Zohran Mamdani represents it here and now,” Menken said.

Influencer and activist Lizzy Savetsky said, “What did Mamdani do on her first day in office? She eliminated the definition of antisemitism,” prompting the crowd to boo the mayor. “If we can’t define it, how can we fight it?”

Although much of the rally focused on anti-Semitism, some speakers emphasized that they were rallying to oppose a mayor they viewed as a threat not only to Jews but also to Americans. Speakers represented people from many different walks of life, including Christians and Muslims.

“This is not about antisemitism. This is about who we are as Americans,” Goldstein told Fox News Digital. “Do we believe in the rule of law? Do we believe in civil rights? Do we believe in equal protection?”

“We demand equal protection before the law. The truth is on our side, the law is on our side,” he added.

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Anila Ali, who led the first Muslim delegation in New York City’s annual Israel Day Parade, is speaking out against Mayor Zohran Mamdani and accusing him of being separatist. (Rachel Wolf/Fox News Digital)

Abraham Hamra, a Syrian Jew who had to flee his hometown with his family as a child, said Mamdani poses a greater threat to Americans.

“What comes here, me and my family ran away,” he said. “To every New Yorker, every American who watches this, this is not a threat to the Jewish community. This is a threat to you and your way of life as Americans.”

Hamra encouraged Americans to “stand tall” against radical Islam and socialism.

Mamdani recently attracted attention by announcing that she would not participate in the Israel Day Parade scheduled for May 31. Since 1964, all sitting mayors have participated in the parade. This year comes at a time when anti-Semitic incidents and anti-Israel protests outside Jewish institutions are on the rise.

“He’s not participating in the Israel Parade, so we’re going to bring the parade to his door,” influencer Zach Sage Fox told Fox News Digital.

Anila Ali, president of the American Council for the Empowerment of Muslim and Multifaith Women, joined the protest just days before it was set to make history. Ali is scheduled to lead the first group of Muslims to march in the annual Israel Day Parade in New York City in more than 60 years.

At the beginning of his speech, Ali stated that the rally coincided with the beginning of Eid al-Adha, one of the holiest holidays in Islam and celebrated in memory of Abraham’s willingness to sacrifice his son as a sign of his faith in God.

“The Abrahamic prophets did not teach hatred, and if Mayor Mamdani says he is a Muslim, then this hatred of New York Jews is un-Islamic, un-American and immoral,” Ali said.

He accused Mamdani of “using Islam to divide Muslims, Jews, Christians and all of us.” Ali also said the mayor used his faith to further his ideology.

Protesters wave American and Israeli flags as they gather to oppose New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani. (Rachel Wolf/Fox News Digital)

While some focused on Mamdani’s failures on public safety and his impact on the city’s future, others brought up current situations where the mayor has fallen short.

“He will condemn a swastika painted on a building, but he will not condemn the Hezbollah flags and Hamas flags that are currently displayed on the streets every day in New York,” Fox said in a statement to Fox News Digital.

Fox added that Mamdani represents a larger phenomenon in the United States, where many people “hate Jews, but they hide it under the name of Zionism.”

The rally highlighted broader frustrations expressed by many of Mamdani’s critics; Speakers repeatedly expressed concerns about public safety, anti-Semitism and the future of New York City.

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Fox News Digital has reached out to Mamdani’s office for comment.