New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani waves as he arrives to meet with Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva at the residence of Brazil’s ambassador to the United Nations, in New York City on September 21, 2026. (Photo by Adam Gray / POOL / AFP)
Mamdani unveils new strategy to combat antisemitism
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- Mamdani announced a multi-million-dollar plan to curb rising antisemitism through increased security, education, and hate-crime prevention.
- The plan doubles funding for hate-crime prevention, expands synagogue security grants, and promotes Holocaust and Jewish history education.
- NYPD data shows antisemitic incidents surged 182% year-over-year, with Jewish residents accounting for nearly half of all reported NYC hate crimes.
- The Anti-Defamation League criticized the initiative as inadequate, citing the administration's refusal to adopt a formal definition of antisemitism.
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani announced a series of new initiatives Tuesday designed to curb antisemitism across the city, which houses the largest Jewish population in the United States.
The announcement follows sharp criticism from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who previously asserted that many Jewish residents do not feel safe in New York.
Mamdani, known for his pro-Palestinian stances, has repeatedly rejected accusations that his administration fails to take antisemitism seriously.
"The numbers are indisputable: Jewish New Yorkers make up only 12 percent of the population, yet they are the victims of nearly half of all reported hate crimes," Mamdani stated in an official report accompanying the announcement.
According to the latest police statistics, antisemitic incidents in New York City increased by 182 percent between January 2025 and January 2026. Mamdani added that other global cities have similarly recorded disproportionately high levels of anti-Jewish hate crimes.
$1M for house of worship security
The measures outlined by the mayor on Tuesday include doubling the municipal budget allocated for hate crime prevention and directing $1 million in immediate funding to reinforce physical security at synagogues and other houses of worship.
Additionally, Mamdani announced that his administration will encourage public schools to expand educational programming regarding the Holocaust and highlight the contributions of Jewish Americans to New York's history.
"I want to be clear: my administration will have zero tolerance for antisemitism. Not on our subways, not in our workplaces, not online, not anywhere," Mamdani said. "As mayor, I will use every power entrusted to me to protect Jewish New Yorkers and ensure that Jewish life flourishes for generations to come."
Anti-Defamation League criticizes plan
Despite the newly allocated funding, the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), a civil rights non-profit organization that tracks anti-Jewish discrimination, criticized the administration's plan as insufficient.
The organization specifically faulted Mamdani for declining to formally adopt an official definition of antisemitism as part of the municipal framework.
"This mayor does not treat the hate facing Jewish New Yorkers as an emergency and refuses to acknowledge the different shapes it takes," the Anti-Defamation League posted on X.
