Zohran Kwame Mamdani stood in Union Square on Wednesday night holding a candle at a vigil for the 1,200 people Hamas murdered three years ago. He didn't speak. He didn't need to. His official statement had already done enough damage.
Protesters wearing keffiyehs and waving Hamas flags surrounded the mayor of New York City and chanted "traitor" and "sellout." They weren't angry about his statement accusing Israel of genocide. They were angry he showed up to mourn Jews at all.
Hours earlier, Mamdani had released what was technically an October 7 anniversary statement. It acknowledged "the horrific war crimes of October 7" in one sentence, then spent the rest of its length accusing the Jewish state of "devastating, ongoing genocide in Gaza, in which it has killed more than 74,000 Palestinians — including more than 21,000 children." He called for an end to "occupation and apartheid" and condemned the federal government's "complicity with every arms shipment."
The Anti-Defamation League's response was immediate. CEO Jonathan Greenblatt wrote directly to Mamdani: "Not once do you say 'Jews.'" He added: "You are weaponizing a day meant for mourning the worst massacre of Jews since the Holocaust to recycle your usual anti-zionist talking points."
Israeli Consulate Ambassador Ofir Akunis called the statement "a disgrace, shame, and insult to the memory of those who were murdered."
Rabbi Joe Potasnik of the New York Board of Rabbis put it more simply: "This is a day of mourning for us. Just give us that day."
Mamdani couldn't give them that day. The mayor of the city with the largest Jewish population outside of Israel used the anniversary of the worst attack on Jews since the Holocaust to lecture the Jewish state about its self-defense. The word "Jews" appeared nowhere in his statement. The word "genocide" did.
The contrast at the Museum of Jewish Heritage was stark. City Council Speaker Julie Menin — the council's first Jewish speaker — told the crowd: "Today should be a day about only one thing and that is honoring and remembering the 1,200 people who were murdered by Hamas terrorists." She added: "I think to say anything but that is not OK." She received a standing ovation.
Menin never mentioned Mamdani by name. She didn't have to.
So the mayor managed something genuinely difficult on Wednesday. The pro-Hamas crowd at Union Square — the ones with the Hezbollah flags, chanting for the liberation of Gaza — hated him for attending a vigil. Jewish leaders, the ADL, the Israeli consulate, and the city council speaker condemned him for hijacking the anniversary. He tried to split the difference between mourning a massacre and blaming the victims' homeland for defending itself.
Three years ago, 1,200 Israelis were slaughtered and 251 were taken hostage. The mayor of New York marked the occasion by counting Palestinian casualties and demanding America stop sending weapons. Menin counted the dead. The room stood up for her.
