NYC mayor to skip Israel Day Parade while attending other national celebrations

New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani will not attend the city’s annual Israel Day Parade on Sunday, a break from a decades-long tradition, despite attending other events celebrating the city’s cultural diversity.

Since 1964, all of the city’s mayors have attended the Jewish celebration, which comes amid record levels of antisemitism and weeks of anti-Israel protests outside synagogues and Jewish community centers across New York.

Despite his absence, the mayor has pledged to provide security and appropriate permits for the safety of those who will be participating.

MAMDANI WILL NOT GO TO THE ISRAEL DAY CELEBRATION, AFTER YEARS OF BEING MAYOR AMID CHALLENGING PROGRESS

Mamdani stated that he will not attend according to political principles. He has repeatedly criticized Israel following the Hamas Oct. 7, 2023, to the Jewish state and, upon taking office in January, rescinded an order that prohibited city agencies from participating in the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) campaign against Israel.

“I look forward to joining and hosting many community events celebrating Jewish life in New York and the rich Jewish history and culture of our city,” Mamdani’s spokesperson told the Jewish Telegraphic Agency.

Participants march in the Israel Day Parade in New York City. (Roy Rochlin/Getty Images)

“Although I will not be attending the Israel Day Parade, my absence should not be mistaken for refusing to provide security or permits necessary for its safety,” the statement continued. “I was very clear: I believe in equal rights for all people everywhere. That principle always guides me.”

Fox News Digital reached out to the mayor’s office.

MAMDANI REFLECTS ON ‘GENOCIDE’ OF PALESTINIAN PEOPLE AT ST PATRICK’S DAY CELEBRATION

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani participates in 2026 St. Patrick’s Day Parade in New York City on March 17. Mamdani chose not to attend the city’s Israel Day rally, sparking criticism amid record levels of antisemitism. (John Lamparski/Getty Images)

Despite his stance against Israel, the mayor has taken part in other celebrations, including this year’s Patrick’s Day celebration, where he compared the historic plight of the Irish people to “genocide” in Palestine during Israel’s war with Hamas.

At the City New Year Fair in March, Mamdani was present with Gov. Kathy Hochul.

In June, New York hosts the annual Puerto Rican Day Parade, one of the largest in the city. Although the mayor has not yet confirmed whether he will attend this year’s event, he has a history of participating in these celebrations.

He was there in 2025 while on the campaign trail, and at the Pakistan Independence Day Mela in Brooklyn that same year. He also participated in the India Day Parade last year.

While campaigning for the position of mayor, Mamdani said that he might miss many forums, and said that he wanted to focus on core issues.

On April 15, Mamdani posted a video highlighting Griffin’s property while announcing the new pied-à-terre tax. (Kena Betancur/AFP via Getty Images)

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Earlier this month, Mamdani, a Democratic Socialist, became the first NYC mayor in decades to address a May Day rally, also known as International Workers’ Day.

In October, the city’s Columbus Day Parade will make its way down Fifth Avenue. Last year, he chose to skip the event, which ended up being canceled due to high winds – a decision that drew criticism from Italian-American advocacy groups, especially after a social media post resurfaced in 2020 showing him giving the middle finger to a statue of Columbus in Queens.

Fox News Digital’s Ariella Noveck contributed to this report.