New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani on Thursday condemned the antisemitic incident that occurred on Wednesday evening, where a mob of about 200 people protested outside Manhattan's historic Park East Synagogue.
The demonstration was held in protest against a Nefesh B'Nefesh event at the synagogue. Protesters shouted calls for violence, including “From New York to Gaza, globalize the Intifada".
Dora Pekec, spokesperson for Mamdani, told Fox News Digital that Mamdani has "discouraged the language used at last night’s protest and will continue to do so."
"He believes every New Yorker should be free to enter a house of worship without intimidation, and that these sacred spaces should not be used to promote activities in violation of international law," Pekec added.
New York Governor Kathy Hochul condemned the protest as a "blatant attack on the Jewish community."
"No New Yorker should be intimidated or harassed at their house of worship," Hochul said in a statement quoted by Fox News. "What happened last night at [Park East Synagogue] was shameful and a blatant attack on the Jewish community. Hate has no place in New York."
Outgoing Mayor Eric Adams, who is currently visiting Israel, condemned the protests and stated he would visit Park East Synagogue when he returns to New York City.
"Houses of worship are where people go to heal, reflect, and respect one another. Church, mosque, synagogue, it makes no difference. Screaming vile language outside any of them isn’t 'protest' it’s desecration. It shows how sick and warped these agitators have become," Adams said, while urging New Yorkers that "we cannot hand this city over to radicals."
Mamdani, who won the mayoral election earlier this month, is notorious for his anti-Israel actions, including his criticism of Israel on October 8, 2023 - just one day after the Hamas massacre in southern Israel, as well as his refusal to condemn the phrase “globalize the intifada” - which was shouted by the protesters on Wednesday night.
He has repeatedly accused Israel of war crimes in its battle against Hamas in Gaza, and has vowed to arrest Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu if he visits New York City.
Data released by the New York City Police Department on the day before the mayoral election revealed that Jews were the victims in 62% of all hate crimes reported last month, with 29 antisemitic incidents out of a total of 47.
On the very day that Mamdani was elected, swastikas were sprayed on the Magen David Yeshiva in Brooklyn.
Last weekend, antisemitic graffiti reading “F**k Jews” was found scrawled on a sidewalk in the Cobble Hill neighborhood of Brooklyn.
New York City Council member Lincoln Restler shared footage of the graffiti on social media, noting NYC Sanitation promptly cleaned the sidewalk.