ADL warns NYC mayor-elect Mamdani poses danger to Jewish community

The head of the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) issued a warning to New Yorkers following the election of Zohran Mamdani as New York City’s next mayor, calling her a “clear and present danger” to the Jewish community and promising to hold her accountable.

“Hundreds of thousands of Jewish New Yorkers are alarmed, and that concern is justified,” said ADL CEO Jonathan Greenblatt. Fox News Radio’s “The Brian Kilmeade Show.”

Mamdani was declared the winner of the mayoral race on Tuesday night. He defeated former Gov. Andrew Cuomo and Curtis Sliwa. The self-described Democratic socialist has faced intense scrutiny for past statements labeled antisemitic by his opponents.

“As Jews, we have learned over the years to believe people when they say they are going to do something, such as taking their word for it,” Greenblatt said Wednesday.

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“This mayor-elect has said things, if you will, that could make this environment even more unsafe for Jewish New Yorkers, and he is determined to do those things.”

Greenblatt stated that he has seen an increase in antisemitism in the city and that New Yorkers are now on edge with Mamdani’s election.

Zohran Mamdani gives a victory speech at a mayoral election night vigil party in New York City on Tuesday. (Yuki Iwamura/AP)

The 34-year-old former state assemblyman from Queens has repeatedly refused to condemn the “globalize the intifada” slogan. The phrase has been widely used by anti-Israel protesters and has been interpreted as a call for violence against the Jewish state.

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The mayor-elect was also criticized for posting a photo of himself smiling with Imam Siraj Wahhaj, who served as a character witness for the mastermind of the 1993 World Trade Center bombing. Wahhaj also had a history of defending convicted terrorists and raised money for their legal defense.

In response to Mamdani’s rise, Greenblatt said the ADL has launched several initiatives, including a tip line for New Yorkers to register incidents of antisemitism.

“If New Yorkers encounter anti-Semitism where they work, worship, shop or socialize, report it to us at ADL and we will make sure authorities follow up,” he said.

Then-New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani (center) meets Sen. Celebrating with Bernie Sanders (left) and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (right). (Andres Kudacki/Getty Images)

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Greenblatt said the ADL is also launching what it calls the “Mamdani Monitor,” which will track which officials the next mayor appoints as well as the policies and programs he implements.

“We’re going to hold this guy accountable,” Greenblatt said.

Mamdani vehemently denied accusations of antisemitism, saying his criticism was directed at the Israeli government, not the Jewish people. He had previously promised to arrest Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu if he entered New York.

He reaffirmed this position when he appeared on “The Story” in October.

New York Attorney General Letitia James and mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani attended a campaign rally at Lou Gehrig Plaza in the Bronx, where Mamdani received an endorsement from Bronx elected officials on September 2. (Lev Radin/Pacific Press/LightRocket via Getty Images)

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“I said this is a city that believes in international law and wants to uphold and maintain those beliefs,” Mamdani said.

The International Criminal Court has charged Netanyahu with “war crimes” for Israel’s war with Hamas, which the Hamas-run Gaza Ministry of Health says has killed more than 67,000 people.