Socialist Democrat New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani was escorted by security through Manhattan's Foley Square after a protester accused him of antisemitism. The confrontation occurred on Friday amid shouts demanding he denounce Hezbollah and Sharia law. Video footage captured the tense scene as protesters trailed him to a waiting vehicle.
On Friday, Zohran Mamdani, a socialist Democrat running for New York City mayor, faced a heated confrontation in Foley Square, Manhattan. He had been speaking at the location to show solidarity with New York Attorney General Letitia James, who this week faced a mortgage fraud indictment related to a Virginia property.
A video shared on X shows Mamdani cornered by protesters shouting and beating drums. One man trailed closely, yelling, "Denounce Hezbollah! Denounce Sharia law!" Others called him an "antisemite" and refused to back down. Security agents formed a protective barrier, ushering Mamdani toward a waiting vehicle. As they reached the car, a protester holding a flag pushed up against what appeared to be another security member before the vehicle departed.
The incident highlights ongoing scrutiny of Mamdani's positions on Middle East issues. He has faced repeated calls to repudiate Hezbollah and slogans like "Globalize the Intifada." In a June 2025 appearance on "Meet the Press," Mamdani declined to fully do so, stating that "policing language is not the role of a public official," while affirming his opposition to incitement to violence and antisemitism.
Earlier this week, on Tuesday, Mamdani issued a statement marking the second anniversary of the October 7, 2023, Hamas attacks on Israel. "Two years ago today, Hamas carried out a horrific war crime, killing more than 1,100 Israelis and kidnapping 250 more. I mourn these lives and pray for the safe return of every hostage still held and for every family whose lives were torn apart by these atrocities," he said. He also referenced the Gaza situation, noting a death toll exceeding 67,000 and Israeli military actions bombing homes, hospitals, and schools.
The Israeli Foreign Ministry reposted Mamdani's statement on X, accusing him of "acting as a mouthpiece for Hamas propaganda." They added, "By repeating Hamas’s lies, he excuses terror and normalizes antisemitism. He stands with Jews only when they are dead. Shameful." Mamdani's press office did not immediately respond to requests for comment.