Zionist Organization of America (ZOA) National President Morton A. Klein and ZOA Director of Research and Special Projects, Liz Berney, Esq. released the following statement:

Zionist Organization of America (ZOA) was honored to be a backer and promoter of the “Protest Zohran Mamdani” demonstration near Gracie Mansion on Tuesday evening (May 26), organized by End Jew Hatred, which is led by Lawfare Project founder, ZOA Coalition member and ZOA’s dear friend Brooke Goldstein. ZOA’s Director of Research & Special Projects Liz Berney, Esq. was also one of the speakers at the protest. Here is Liz’s report:

The demonstration was very well attended, with over one thousand attendees who filled much of a wide, long city block, including a majority of Jews from all streams of Judaism; families of 9/11 victims and October 7 victims; Hindus; Catholics; other non-Jews; social media influencers; Democrats and Republicans; “Blakeman for Governor” fans; Russian-Jewish-American-Republican NY State Assemblyman Michael Novakhov (who spoke, and whom ZOA recently worked with on rescinding the visa for a vicious Uzbek antisemite); Catholic League’s Bill Donohue (who spoke); Ethiopian-Jewish-Israeli-American and Nassau County Legislator Mazi Pilip (who also spoke); excellent MC Michelle Ahdoot; CJV’s Rabbi Menken; many other good friends; and a pro-Israel Muslim (who also spoke, and will be marching in the upcoming Israel Day parade).

Notably, in contrast to the violent, dangerous, anti-Israel, pro-murdering-Jews, pro-destroying-Israel Hamas riots that have been held at the doorstep of New York synagogues and schools, our peaceful demonstration on Tuesday evening was required to be held on 87th Street – a block away from Gracie Mansion, which is on 88th Street. Apparently, Mamdani is fine with rioters being able to threaten synagogue-goers and Jewish schoolchildren up close, but wants to keep law-abiding Jewish protestors far away from the taxpayer-financed New York mansion he occupies. We nonetheless shouted loudly, to try to make sure that Mamdani could hear us from a block away.

Wonderful speakers and numerous creative signs recounted Mamdani’s horrendous record of hatred towards New York’s Jewish community, Jews, and the Jewish State including:

• Mamdani’s rescission of executive orders protecting New York’s Jewish community and the IHRA definition of antisemitism on day one of his mayoral term;
• Mamdani’s abuse of New York City funds to create a despicable, distorted, antisemitic, anti-Israel “Nakba” propaganda film;
• Mamdani’s frightening support of murdering Jews by his refusal to condemn “Globalize the Intifada” – which calls for murdering every Jew around the world; 
• Mamdani’s veto of the City Council law to provide school buffer zones; 
• Mamdani’s participation in anti-Israel demonstrations; • Mamdani’s refusal to march in the Israel Day parade; and 
• Mamdani’s failures to keep New York as a safe place for its one million Jewish citizens who helped build New York City, and comprise the largest Jewish population outside of Israel.

I spoke about Mamdani’s open opposition to Israel’s existence, and Mamdani’s claim that Jews buying apartments in Israel is illegal – which Mamdani used to falsely blame the synagogues that pro-Hamas mobs threatened. I noted that Jews buying apartments in Israel or NY is not illegal – and that Mamdani’s incitement of Jew-hatred is what is illegal. I then led the crowd in an enthusiastic chant (which I put together on the spot): “Two, four, six, eight, Israel is the Jewish State, Stop Mamdani to end Jew-hate.” I also spoke about how I know that we are going to win, just as we won when we came out in the streets for our Jewish brothers and sisters in Israel and in Russia.

Several speakers spoke about how they, their parents, or grandparents came to New York years ago to escape antisemitic persecution, and helped build New York City – only to be subjected to frightening antisemitism under Jew-hating, Israel-hating bigot Mamdani’s reign. One speaker (I don’t recall which one) noted (paraphrased): “All Mamdani had to do was nothing. Just keep the current protections in place. But instead, he went out of his way to change things to harm the Jewish community.”  Other chants during the evening included: “Hey ho, Mamdani’s got to go”; “U.S.A.”; and, of course, “Am Yisrael Chai!”

New York City police officers were visibly present on this occasion, and kept the small number of anti-Israel demonstrators far away. Our crowd thanked the NYPD.

The “Protest Zohran Mamdani” event received a lot of press coverage, including at: CBS News; The New York Post; Times of Israel; AMNY; i24News; and others.

Disgustingly, Democratic, Muslim New York City Councilmember Shahana Hanif posted on X the following curse against protest attendees: “May Allah condemn you to Jahannam [hell],” and reposted that our peaceful protest was a “hate rally.” No, the real hate rallies – actually hate riots – are the pro-Hamas riots encouraged by Mamdani that have threatened the safety of Jewish New Yorkers. That’s why we protested Tuesday night – and will keep protesting.