The vitality was palpable Sunday as hundreds packed a dozen blocks of Fifth Avenue waving Israeli flags for New York’s annual Israel Day Parade. Organizers stated the turnout was the biggest within the occasion’s six-decade historical past.
The procession featured its ordinary mixture of Jewish nonprofits, faculties and synagogues marching to blaring Israeli music alongside parade floats sponsored by teams together with Nefesh B’Nefesh, the UJA Federation of New York and the Maccabiah Video games.
However this yr’s parade, which was themed “Proud People, Proud Zionists,” unfolded amid rising political polarization over Israel and with out New York Metropolis Mayor Zohran Mamdani, who grew to become the primary mayor in a long time to skip the occasion.
For all of the criticism Mamdani has obtained over his marketing campaign pledge to not attend the occasion, lots of those that did end up advised the Jewish Telegraphic Company they have been glad he wasn’t there.
“He doesn’t like us,” stated Andrea Roman, who attended the parade sporting an Israeli flag cape and thought it was “good” that Mamdani hadn’t come. “Why do you have to be some place the place you don’t like? He doesn’t promote peace. This promotes peace, however in fact he’s not going to be right here.”
Jeremy Bell, 39, additionally stated wasn’t bothered by the mayor’s absence – and that there have been many extra who felt as he did.
“I don’t assume that he was actually wished right here,” Bell stated, including, “I don’t need to be right here with somebody who doesn’t imagine in our proper to exist and clearly associates with those that don’t have our greatest pursuits in thoughts.”
Marchers within the Israeli Day Parade carry cardobard cutouts of New York Metropolis Mayor Zohran Mamdani and Rama Duwaji, the primary woman of New York Metropolis, on Might 31, 2026. (Grace Gilson)
Regardless of Mamdani’s absence, the occasion, often called the biggest pro-Israel parade on the planet, featured a prolonged roster of political officers and lawmakers. New York Gov. Kathy Hochul, New York Legal professional Normal Letitia James, U.S. Senate Minority Chief Chuck Schumer and U.S. Rep. Jerry Nadler have been amongst these in attendance, as have been former New York Metropolis Mayors Eric Adams and Mike Bloomberg.
NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch, who on Thursday stated that safety preparations for the parade can be “probably the most intensive” that the NYPD had ever put collectively, additionally joined the festivities as an honorary grand marshal.
Whereas many paradegoers stated that they by no means thought-about staying house due to safety considerations, a number of stated they appreciated the presence of hundreds of law enforcement officials and intensive barricades that blocked the streets surrounding the occasion.
Police stand by barricades in the course of the annual Israel Day Parade on Fifth Avenue in New York Metropolis on Might 31, 2026. (Grace Gilson)
“We’re grateful that tens of hundreds of contributors and spectators have been capable of collect safely and proudly within the coronary heart of New York Metropolis,” Mitchell Silber, the CEO of the Neighborhood Safety Initiative, stated in an announcement. “Right now’s success displays the extraordinary planning, coordination, and professionalism of the NYPD and our regulation enforcement companions.”
That quantity was boosted in some instances by contributors who stated the mayor’s resolution to skip the occasion factored into their very own resolution to come back.
Karene Hermon, 22, stated that whereas beforehand she would have been extra “impartial” about attending, listening to that Mamdani had chosen to not come drove her to “be with my folks.”
“I believe it sends the incorrect message,” Hermon stated of the mayor’s refusal to take part. “I believe we’re attempting to come back collectively, not separate folks, no matter … how you’re feeling a couple of trigger.”
First-time paradegoer Luis Margules travelled to the march from Pennsylvania. He stated that he had come as a result of it felt like “a second to be with Israel.”
“That is my first parade, however I believe this yr it’s one of the vital vital ones,” Margules stated. “I believe the world doesn’t perceive the state of affairs with Iran and the Palestinians, and all the pieces is blamed on Israel.”
Ofir Akunis, the consul basic of Israel in New York, stated in an announcement that the parade “delivered a powerful reply to all those that hate Israel.”
“This yr’s parade was an unprecedented demonstration of energy by New York’s Jewish neighborhood and the folks of Israel,” Akunis stated. “It sends a transparent and unequivocal message: We’re right here to remain, and we aren’t going anyplace.”
However not the entire spectators Sunday have been there in assist.
Protesters show towards the presence of Israeli Knesset members within the Israel Day parade in New York Metropolis on Might 31, 2026. (Spencer Platt/Getty Pictures)
Whereas there was no large-scale protest seen in the course of the parade, roughly 25 folks demonstrated alongside the path to oppose the inclusion of a report delegation of roughly 10 Israeli Knesset members, together with far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and two members of Nationwide Safety Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir’s ultra-nationalist Otzma Yehudit celebration.
Because the delegation handed the demonstration, which was organized by the progressive teams Israelis for Peace and Pals of Standing Collectively New York, protesters shouted “disgrace” and “warfare criminals,” in keeping with Tamar Glezerman, an organizer for Israelis for Peace.
“We have been there to protest towards the Israeli Knesset delegation, the biggest of its dimension of the entire parades, that despatched members of the coalition and the so-called opposition to do hasbara and march victoriously up a New York avenue,” Glezerman advised JTA in a cellphone interview Sunday, utilizing the Hebrew phrase for public relations.
Whereas the main target of the demonstration centered on opposing the Knesset delegation, Glezerman added that “a parade that very a lot champions unexamined, unchecked and non-critical assist of Israel is maybe vital for folks right here. It isn’t good for Israelis. It certain as hell isn’t good for Palestinians.”
Margules, in distinction, stated that seeing the Israeli Knesset members cross by had made him really feel “proud.”
“It’s good to know that even in these darkish instances we are able to nonetheless be collectively with out violence, and we are able to disagree on many issues, however we’ve got to agree on one thing,” Margules stated. “We’re right here as a result of Israel exists.”
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