The protest at the Park East Synagogue sparked criticism from NYC Mayor Mamdani

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani is facing criticism for her responses to recent anti-Semitic incidents, including a protest outside the Park East Synagogue and graffiti of swastikas in the Queens neighborhood.

New York City Councilwoman Vickie Paladino, R-District 19, told Fox News Digital that the mayor “created a very dangerous environment” and accused him of “standing with the protesters.” Paladino’s district is located in Queens, but does not include areas that were recorded.

“What this mayor has done is to tell everyone in his own way that this is right. This behavior is rewarded and right, it is not criticized, it is encouraged by the mayor of New York City because he agrees with them 100%,” said Paladino. The councilor pointed out that Mamdani, as a member of the assembly, protested against ICE until he faced “border kingpin” Tom Homan in 2025.

“I refuse to respect him as my mayor… because he is not a leader,” he said.

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On Tuesday evening, anti-Israel protesters clashed with police during a protest at the Great Israel Real Estate Event, which took place at the Park East Synagogue. Videos circulating online show protesters trying to break down and break New York Police Department barriers as officers try to control the crowd.

“Some of the speech and behavior outside the Park East Synagogue – including displays of support for terrorist organizations and counter-terrorism – was unacceptable. As the Mayor said, songs that support terrorist organizations and incite violence of any kind have no place in our city,” Mamdani’s Deputy Press Secretary Sam Raskin told Fox News Digital.

The protest attracted national attention, where Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., denounced the protesters as “a bunch of pro-Hezbollah/Hamas s—heads.” The senator also called out his party for not criticizing the incident enough. Additionally, Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon said in an X post that the Justice Department’s human rights division will investigate.

“Park East Synagogue remains steadfast in our commitment to peaceful worship, and we appreciate the NYPD’s tireless efforts to protect our historic synagogue community,” a Park East Synagogue spokesperson said in a statement obtained by Fox News Digital.

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani and City Council Speaker Julie Menin have started over, charged with blocking the NYPD from protecting student protests. (Gardiner Anderson/New York Daily News)

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The riotous protest came days after graffiti-painted swastikas were found in several locations in Queens. Signs were found in synagogues, people’s homes, cars and the Jewish community center. Another swastika was painted on a plaque honoring the victims of the Holocaust. The NYPD later released surveillance photos of four people wanted in connection with the antisemitic graffiti spree.

After the discovery of the document, New York City Council Speaker Julie Menin, who is Jewish and the daughter and granddaughter of Holocaust survivors, visited the sites of destruction. In a statement on X, Menin condemned the graffiti as “horrific symbols of hatred and threats of violence.” Jack Lobel, a spokesman for Menin, also told Fox News Digital that he discussed the matter with the NYPD to ensure that those responsible for vandalism are caught and held accountable.

The speaker also condemned the protest outside the Park East Synagogue, saying, “The calls for the destruction of Israel and the glorification of Hezbollah are terrifying, frightening, and fanning the flames of religion.”

New York City officials say four suspects are accused of spray-painting swastikas and other antisemitic symbols on synagogues, homes and cars in Queens, New York, earlier this week. (New York City Council Speaker Julie Menin/X)

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Paladino, however, dismissed Menin’s visit to Queens graffiti sites as a “photo op” and said the speaker had not done enough.

In response to a request for comment, Lobel said, “Speaker Menin has a clear record of combating antisemitism, not just with words but with actions. His first major announcement as speaker was a Five-Point Plan to Combat Antisemitism, including enhanced protection of houses of worship and investment in Holocaust education.”

Menin’s five-point plan to combat antisemitism included a proposal to create “a perimeter around the doors and exits of houses of worship, to prevent harassment and intimidation while preserving First Amendment rights.” The City Council passed two “sanctuary” bills, one protecting schools and one for houses of worship. Mamdani rejected a bill that would have protected schools from violence related to the protests, angering critics.

Anti-Israel activists clash with the NYPD at the ‘Stop the Sale of Stolen Palestinian Land’ protest against the ‘Great Israel Real Estate’ event for the sale of Palestinian land at Park East Synagogue in Manhattan on Tuesday, May 05, 2026, in New York City. (Selcuk Acar/Anadolu via Getty Images)

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The protest and graffiti underscored the concerns of New York Jews about rising anti-Semitism that threatens their safety. Although Mamdani’s responses to both of these incidents have been criticized, his comments on the protest have drawn scrutiny as the Mayor has said that it is “not compatible at all” with the event.

“If we have a housing exhibition that promotes the sale of land, including the sale of land in the West Bank, in residential areas that violate international law, that is something I strongly oppose,” Mamdani said in response to a reporter’s question. The mayor added that he saw the sale of the land as something that was “at the heart of the ongoing effort to drive Palestinians from their homes.”

The recent incidents have increased criticism of Mamdani and raised questions about how the city, which has a large Jewish population outside of Israel, will deal with discrimination.

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Fox News Digital’s Julia Bonavita and Alex Nitzberg contributed to this report.