His choice marks a departure from a decades-long tradition of mayors attending the parade. The city’s police chief, Jessica Tisch, who identifies as Jewish, expressed that she would be marching “with pride.”

Republican gubernatorial candidate Bruce Blakeman, a consistent critic of Mamdani, labeled the mayor as “anti-Israel” before the parade commenced. He shared his thoughts with the media: “I think he’s anti-Semitic. I think he’s anti-Israel. One of the first things he did as mayor was water down the definition of anti-Semitism.”

Blakeman suggested that while Mamdani criticizes Israel, he refrains from addressing human rights issues in other countries. “I would never say anything about places like Iran, Russia, China, places that don’t really have human rights like Israel,” he remarked, dismissing Mamdani as “a wolf in sheep’s clothing” not worthy of participating in the parade.

In a statement, Danny Danon, Israel’s ambassador to the United Nations, expressed excitement over the turnout at the parade, despite Mamdani’s absence. “While the mayor chose to boycott the event and turn his back on tens of thousands of Jews and supporters of Israel, the public came together to prove that ties to Israel are stronger than any political movement,” he noted.

Parade attendees included Hochul, Schumer, and other state officials, like Attorney General Letitia James. Schumer, speaking before the parade, condemned what he termed the “ugly resurgence” of anti-Semitism globally, attributing it to the lies that have historically bothered the Jewish community. He remarked, “Anti-Semitism is not going away. It will always exist, sleeping in the shadows, waiting for the right conditions.”