Democrats split on Israel parade as Schumer attends and Mamdani skips out

As they’ve done for decades, prominent members of the Democratic party establishment marched on Sunday in New York City’s annual Israel Day parade. Perhaps more noteworthy, however, was who was missing. Zohran Mamdani, the mayor of New York City, refused to attend , citing his opposition to the Israeli government, which he has accused of committing genocide in Gaza. “I said on the campaign trail that I wouldn’t be attending the parade, and I’ve made my views on the Israeli government abundantly clear,” Mamdani told reporters last week, stressing that public safety remained paramount and vowing a strong police presence. Mamdani is believed to be the first mayor to miss the parade since it began in 1964. Brad Lander, a Jewish politician and former New York comptroller now running for Congress , and the progressive groups Israelis For Peace and Jews for Racial and Economic Justice (JFREJ), also stayed away. Their stance contrasted with city police commissioner Jessica Tisch, who attended the event. She said: “It is the mayor’s decision not to march, and it is my decision to march proudly.” Other Democrats in attendance included New York senator Chuck Schumer, representatives Dan Goldman and Jerry Nadler, state governor Kathy Hochul, attorney general Letitia James, former mayors Eric Adams and Michael Bloomberg and ex-governor Andrew Cuomo. Letitia James, Kathy Hochul and city council speaker Julie Menin participate in annual Israeli Day parade in New York on 31 May 2026. …