Aide Criticizes NYPD Over Protest at Manhattan Synagogue

During Mayor Eric Adams’ absence, his top aide criticized the New York Police Department for not intervening when anti-Israel protesters created a disruptive scene outside a Manhattan synagogue last week.

Randy Mastro, acting as Mayor Pro Tem, stated on 77W ABC’s “Cats Roundtable” that the protesters were targeting Jewish individuals simply going to synagogues to observe their faith. He expressed that while protests are permitted, allowing anti-Israel demonstrators to harass Jews at the synagogue’s entrance was unacceptable.

He described the situation outside the historic Park East Synagogue on the Upper East Side as threatening, saying, “The protesters got too close to the entrance. They said some very mean things. They should never have been that close, and it should never have reached that stage.”

Approximately 200 demonstrators were present, vocalizing their discontent as Jews attended an event organized by Nefesh Benefesh, a group that facilitates Jewish immigration from North America to Israel.

Earlier, NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch had apologized to synagogue members for how the department managed the protests. Mastro reiterated this sentiment, emphasizing that the police should have controlled the crowd better, stating, “We should have moved them further away from the entrance.”

Mastro recalled that the protesters shouted phrases like “globalize the intifada” and expressed extreme views against a two-state solution, remarking that this behavior is simply unacceptable in New York City.

“It’s imperative to protect places of worship, especially for those facing protests,” Mastro said. “We must ensure that all New Yorkers can practice their religion without fear or intimidation.”

He added that the situation felt surreal, saying, “I never thought I would see that in my life.” Mastro noted the need to balance the rights to worship and to protest, ensuring that both are respected without overlap.

Adams was expected back in the city on Sunday. Meanwhile, supervisors from the Manhattan North Precinct were responsible for managing the protest and ensuring safety.

During a service at Park East Synagogue, Tisch acknowledged lapses in police response, stating they failed to keep the entrance accessible for congregants. She took responsibility for this oversight, which she said contributed to a disorderly entrance experience that day.