New York, May 31 (SANA) New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani announced he will not participate in the annual “Israel Day” parade held Sunday in the city, which typically attracts mayors, governors, and other political leaders, as an expression of his support for Palestinian rights.
CNN quoted Mamdani in a press briefing as saying his decision comes in response to a pledge he made during his election campaign and reflects his criticism of Israel.
Mamdani’s office recently released a video commemorating the “Nakba of Palestine,” during which around 700,000 Palestinians were displaced in 1948, featuring documentary texts about the Nakba.
With this announcement, Mamdani becomes the first mayor to skip this historic gathering since its launch about 60 years ago. The “Israel Day” parade, under various names, has remained an event that the mayor, governors, and other political leaders do not miss on the anniversary of the 1948 occupation of Palestine.
New York City mayors, overseeing the largest Jewish population in the United States, have habitually shown support for Israeli occupation, but popular support for Israel among Americans has declined sharply in recent years, a trend that accelerated with growing anger over Israeli massacres and practices in the Gaza Strip.
Mamdani was elected mayor of New York City last year and is one of the most prominent American politicians strongly supporting Palestinian rights, having severely criticized the Israeli aggression on Gaza, participated in “Nakba Day” demonstrations, and condemned the apartheid system and occupation.
He is also known for his support of the Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) movement against Israel, his refusal to visit the occupied Palestinian territories, and his boycott of annual parades celebrating Israeli occupation.
KhA
