New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has strongly condemned chants of “we support Hamas” after demonstrators were filmed shouting the slogan during a protest in a predominantly Jewish neighbourhood in Queens.
Several unverified videos circulating widely on social media appear to show protesters waving Palestinian flags while chanting in support of Hamas, which is designated a terrorist organisation by the United States government. The authenticity of the footage could not be independently verified.
The videos prompted swift condemnation from political leaders across city, state and federal levels, amid heightened sensitivities surrounding public safety and antisemitism. Protesters in Queens chant, “Say it loud, say it clear, we support Hamas here” https://t.co/tGxtEYTEwv pic.twitter.com/RKxD3uY4Ia
Mayor’s Response
Addressing the controversy later the same day, Mamdani denounced any expression of support for terrorist organisations, while reaffirming the constitutional right to peaceful protest.
“As I said earlier today, chants in support of a terrorist organization have no place in our city,” Mamdani said in a statement. “We will continue to ensure New Yorkers’ safety as they enter and exit houses of worship, while also protecting the constitutional right to protest.”
Under US federal law, providing material support to designated terrorist organisations — including Hamas — is a criminal offence.
Political Condemnation
New York Governor Kathy Hochul described the chants as deeply troubling. “Hamas is a terrorist organisation that calls for the genocide of Jews. Regardless of political beliefs, this rhetoric is disgusting, dangerous, and has no place in New York,” she said.
Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez also criticised the protest, calling the chants “disgusting and antisemitic.” In a post on X, she said, “Marching into a predominantly Jewish neighbourhood and leading with a chant saying ‘we support Hamas’ is unacceptable. Pretty basic.”
Scrutiny of Past Remarks
The incident has also renewed scrutiny of Mamdani’s past comments. In an interview with Fox News’ Martha MacCallum in October last year, Mamdani declined to directly condemn Hamas, instead redirecting the conversation to issues related to affordability and cost-of-living concerns for New Yorkers.
The latest episode comes amid elevated tensions nationwide, as protests linked to the Israel-Hamas conflict continue following the October 7, 2023 attacks.
.png)
The opinions posted here do not belong to 🔰www.indiansdaily.com. The author is solely responsible for the opinions.
As per the IT policy of the Central Government, insults against an individual, community, religion or country, defamatory and inflammatory remarks, obscene and vulgar language are punishable offenses. Legal action will be taken for such expressions of opinion.