New York City’s far-left leadership is now reportedly facing renewed scrutiny after protesters openly chanted support for Hamas outside a Queens synagogue, forcing Jewish institutions to close and prompting belated condemnation from city officials amid mounting political pressure.
On Thursday night, demonstrators gathered outside a synagogue in Queens and shouted slogans backing the terrorist group Hamas, chanting, “Say it loud, say it clear, we support Hamas here.” The protest quickly raised alarms in the surrounding community, leading several Jewish institutions — including schools, daycares, and synagogues — to shut their doors early over safety concerns.
Videos of the demonstration spread rapidly online, drawing millions of views and sparking outrage across the political spectrum. The incident also put a spotlight on the response from New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, whose initial silence drew criticism. According to Politico, Mamdani did not address the chants until a reporter pressed him publicly the following day.
“That language is wrong,” Mamdani said Friday while walking to his vehicle. “I think that language has no place in New York City.”
Later, Mamdani attempted to clarify his position in a post on X. “As I said earlier today, chants in support of a terrorist organization have no place in our city,” he wrote. He added that the city would continue to ensure safety for those entering and exiting houses of worship while also protecting the constitutional right to protest.
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who has repeatedly accused Israel of “genocide,” also weighed in after the video circulated widely. Posting on X Friday night, Ocasio-Cortez acknowledged the antisemitic nature of the protest.
“Hey so marching into a predominantly Jewish neighborhood and leading with a chant saying ‘we support Hamas’ is a disgusting and antisemitic thing to do,” she wrote. “Pretty basic!”
The statements came only after significant backlash, and critics argue they reflect a pattern of delayed responses from progressive leaders when antisemitism emerges from the far left.
Mamdani, in particular, has faced repeated accusations of promoting antisemitic rhetoric. In 2023, he tied his anti-policing views to Israel and the Israeli Defense Forces, saying, “We have to make clear that when the boot of the NYPD is on your neck, it’s been laced by the IDF.” He argued that struggles involving Israel were connected to what he described as capitalist interests in the United States, especially in New York City.
More recently, Mamdani drew criticism shortly after taking office when he signed an executive order revoking all mayoral directives issued after September 26, 2024. The move effectively removed several measures designed to protect the Jewish community and strengthen ties with Israel.
Sen. John Fetterman, a Democrat who has consistently spoken out against antisemitism, condemned the Queens protest in blunt terms.
“These a**holes in NYC proudly chant for Hamas in close proximity to a Jewish school and place of worship,” Fetterman wrote on X. “This is menacing and intimidation. The Jewish community deserves relief and protection from these raging antisemites.”
The incident has reignited concerns over public safety, rising antisemitism, and whether city leaders are willing to confront extremist rhetoric consistently — not just when public outrage leaves them no other choice.
