Pro-Palestinian candidate Zohran Mamdani confronted by enraged New Yorkers shouting “Antisemite” and “Denounce Hezbollah” after inflammatory anti-Israel remarks.
Chaos erupted in Manhattan’s Foley Square on Friday when New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani, a Democratic socialist and outspoken supporter of Palestinians, was chased out of a rally by angry protesters accusing him of antisemitism and extremist sympathies.
The viral video circulating on social media shows Mamdani, visibly shaken, surrounded by his security detail as protesters screamed, “Antisemite!” and “Denounce Hezbollah! Denounce Sharia law!” while advancing toward him. Security guards struggled to contain the crowd as demonstrators cornered the candidate, forcing his team to escort him swiftly to a waiting vehicle.
The confrontation followed Mamdani’s appearance at a rally supporting New York Attorney General Letitia James, who is embroiled in a separate legal scandal. But tensions boiled over due to Mamdani’s anti-Israel rhetoric and his recent October 7 post — in which he acknowledged Hamas’ massacre of Israeli civilians before accusing Israel of “genocide.”
Mamdani, a state assemblyman from Queens known for his radical affiliations, has long drawn criticism from Jewish organizations and moderate Democrats alike. He previously made headlines by declaring he would arrest Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu if the Israeli leader ever visited New York — a statement many saw as an act of political grandstanding and hostility toward Israel’s right to defend itself.
Friday’s incident reflected the growing backlash against American politicians who echo Hamas talking points under the guise of “solidarity.” Protesters accused Mamdani of legitimizing terror and spreading antisemitic tropes amid a rise in hate crimes targeting New York’s Jewish community.
“New Yorkers have had enough of leaders who demonize Israel and embolden extremists,” shouted one protester.
The footage captures the moment Mamdani’s own rhetoric came full circle — as citizens demanded he denounce the very ideologies he has excused. While Mamdani’s campaign declined to comment, the images of his hasty retreat from the square have already gone viral, symbolizing the public’s rejection of antisemitic double standards in American politics.
