NYPD commissioner 'proudly' leads Israel parade as grand marshal; Mamdani breaks tradition, avoids event
The annual parade honoring Israel kicked off in New York City on Sunday without New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani , who earlier said he had chosen to skip the event, as his police commissioner led the parade as a grand marshal and other New York political leaders such as Gov. Ka
The annual parade honoring Israel kicked off in New York City on Sunday without New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani , who earlier said he had chosen to skip the event, as his police commissioner led the parade as a grand marshal and other New York political leaders such as Gov. Kathy Hochul and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer attended.
The Israel Day parade has always been a must-attend event for mayors, governors and other political leaders to celebrate the Jewish state with throngs of revelers who pack Fifth Avenue.
Mamdani on Thursday told reporters at a news conference that he would not be attending.
"I said on the campaign trail that I wouldn’t be attending the parade, and I’ve made my views on the Israeli government abundantly clear," the mayor said.
Mamdani Won't Attend Israel Day Parade, Breaking Decades-long Mayoral Tradition Amid Antisemitism Surge
The city’s police commissioner, Jessica Tisch, who is Jewish, told reporters as she stood alongside Mamdani at the news conference that she would "proudly" march in the parade.
Mamdani’s decision broke a long-standing tradition of mayors participating in the event.
New York Republican gubernatorial candidate Bruce Blakeman, who has long criticized Mamdani, called the mayor "anti-Israel" during his own news conference before the parade began.
