An anti-Zionist activist group that drew widespread condemnation after staging a hostile protest outside a Manhattan shul in November is planning two new demonstrations this week, setting up an early test for New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani and his fledgling administration.
The group, Pal-Awda, announced that it will protest two Israel-related events in the coming days: a Nefesh B�Nefesh gathering scheduled for Wednesday and an Israel real-estate event on Thursday. The organization said it will reveal the locations only on the day of the protests.
Pal-Awda previously organized a protest in November outside Park East Synagogue, where Nefesh B�Nefesh was hosting an event. During that rally, demonstrators shouted threats and antisemitic slurs at attendees, prompting outrage from Jewish leaders and elected officials.
The announcement places Mamdani in a political bind. A permissive response by city authorities�particularly if protests again take place outside synagogues�would likely inflame mainstream Jewish organizations, many of which already have strained relations with the mayor. A more forceful law-enforcement response, however, risks backlash from Mamdani�s far-left supporters, some of whom have defended aggressive anti-Israel demonstrations as protected speech.
Adding to the tension, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said earlier Tuesday that the state will move to establish �safety zones� around houses of worship to prevent harassment and intimidation. That policy, however, will not be in effect in time for this week�s protests.
(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)
Join the official YWN WhatsApp status
5 Responses
�free speech�? nobody is stopping them from saying whatever they want, unfortunately, but there is no �right� to intimidate anyone, or to protest outside a synagogue. the jewish community should do better at preparing counter-measures, whether in the form of private security, or as a counter-protest, with even more people, more banners and louder megaphones.
Well now that they have a mayor in their pocket I don’t see why they should fear any consequences
can someone tell chief taylor
If you are a Jew in NYC, please contact the White House and request that President Trump send the National Guard into NYC to protect the Jewish community from mobs of rioting Islamo-Nazis, and deport those savages from the US if possible.
Shloime, there is no right to intimidate anyone, but there IS a right to protest outside a synagogue, or anywhere else. And there is a right to make ones protest known to its targets, no matter how much that distresses them.