Jewish leader and gubernatorial candidate Bruce Blakeman criticized Mayor Zoran Mamdani for allegedly inciting anti-Semitism, claiming this creates a hostile environment. This assertion comes after a distressing incident during a rally in Manhattan on Sunday, where a man was stabbed, allegedly by Raul Morales, who was also reportedly shouting “Allahu Akbar.” Grunhaus, a 50-year-old Jewish man, was the primary victim, while a 57-year-old Asian man, Chok Sung, was attacked separately the same day.
The rally, named “Unite Against Hate,” took place outside a synagogue on Amsterdam Avenue and West 86th Street, near where these violent actions occurred. Blakeman attributed the recent violence to Mamdani’s comments regarding Israel, particularly his critiques of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
“There is no question that Zoran Mamdani’s anti-Semitic comments are fueling all of the anti-Semitism and violence we are seeing in our city right now,” the Republican candidate said, emphasizing the gravity of the situation as an Asian and a Jewish man were attacked in broad daylight in Manhattan.
He argued that the mayor’s continuous negative rhetoric against Jewish residents has serious consequences and called out Kathy Hochul’s policies for enabling hate-mongers to evade justice swiftly.
Blakeman, who serves as the Nassau County Executive, also expressed concern about soft crime policies, advocating for stricter penalties for hate crimes. He emphasized the disconnect in expecting safety in a context where the Jewish community faces extreme rhetoric, suggesting that current laws should protect victims rather than offenders.
During the rally, the mayor faced accusations from protesters, who demanded his removal, chanting lines like “Eliminate Mamdani” and “Arrest Mamdani.” One protest sign depicted the mayor with blood on his hands, accentuating the anger among disappointed citizens, some reacting to his remarks about potentially arresting Netanyahu as a war criminal ahead of his UN visit.
Community leaders, including Linda Licht-Brown from the ZIONIST organization HERUT New York City, voiced their frustration, declaring the Jewish community as a primary target in the city. Licht-Brown pointed to Mamdani’s earlier decision to repeal an executive order that defined anti-Semitism, calling it a significant step backward.
Another speaker, Moshe Spern, president of the United Jewish Teachers Association, claimed Mamdani’s rhetoric not only discredited Jews but also fostered a climate where such attacks could occur. He highlighted Mamdani’s disparaging remarks about American and Israeli lobbies and noted that words from influential leaders carry weight in shaping societal attitudes.
Blakeman proposed requiring consecutive sentences for individuals found guilty of multiple hate crimes and advocated for a new felony charge addressing patterns of bias. He asserted that severe acts of violence targeting specific groups should be categorized as domestic terrorism, necessitating more stringent legal responses to prevent such individuals from returning to communities.
The event saw participation from other Republican candidates and officials, showing a united front against the current administration’s approach to these pressing issues.
