Mamdani slammed for silence on antisemitic NYC subway attack

According to New York Post, Mamdani has not issued any statement or condemnation four days after a 23-year-old Orthodox Jewish woman was brutally attacked on a C train by a suspect who screamed medieval blood libels at her and physically assaulted her.

The Sunday incident involved Diana Smith, a 45-year-old Bronx resident, who shouted “Jews are eating kids” at the victim while ripping out a chunk of her hair and shoving her to the ground. Smith, who law enforcement sources say has a history of mental illness, now faces hate crime charges including assault.

The victim recounted her terror to the New York Post, describing how she felt like a ragdoll unable to defend herself during the attack.

Moshe Spern, a public school educator who heads the advocacy group United Jewish Teachers, condemned the mayor’s refusal to address the assault. No statement. No condemnation. No leadership, Spern said, calling out Mamdani’s failure to speak against raw antisemitic violence.

Hate Crime Surge Across New York

The attack occurred against a backdrop of alarming statistics. NYPD data shows that hate crimes overall jumped 74.4 percent in May compared to the same month last year. Crimes targeting Jews specifically spiked 70.8 percent, rising from 24 incidents to 41.

Anti-Muslim hate crimes also increased, climbing 66.7 percent from three to five reported incidents. So far this year, Jewish New Yorkers have been victims of 152 hate crimes.

When confronted by reporters about the hate crime spike after a press conference on World Cup preparations Thursday morning, Mamdani ignored the question entirely.

Leaders Demand Action

Mark Treyger, CEO of the Jewish Community Relations Council of New York, described the NYPD data as sobering and called the subway assault an attack on New York City’s core values. He stressed that the crisis requires more than police work alone.

Leaders must do their part to lower the temperature, Treyger stated, because words matter and equivocations matter. While he did not name Mamdani directly, his message was clear.

Republican Queens Councilwoman Joann Ariola pointed to widespread feelings of insecurity among residents. She emphasized that when leaders speak about human rights, they must first protect those rights at home, including the dignity and safety of Jewish New Yorkers.

Ariola warned that this year’s 152 hate crimes against Jews represent a problem that will only worsen unless strong action is taken.

City Hall’s Response

When pressed on what measures the city is implementing to combat the surge, City Hall provided a statement from Phylisa Wisdom, executive director of the Mayor’s Office to Combat Antisemitism.

Wisdom called the increase in antisemitic hate crimes deeply troubling and said it underscores the urgent need to redouble efforts against antisemitism. She noted that the Mamdani administration has increased funding for hate crime prevention efforts by more than 800 percent.

The Office for the Prevention of Hate Crimes will receive $26 million in the proposed budget for next fiscal year, up from $3 million. However, it remains unclear how much of that funding is specifically dedicated to combating antisemitism.

Pattern of Avoidance

Mamdani’s silence on the subway attack follows another controversy. He recently became the first New York mayor in 62 years to skip the Israel Day Parade, which took place Sunday. Instead, the mayor chose to go for a bike ride.

Mamdani defended his absence by citing disagreements with the Israeli government, while promising to celebrate the Jewish community in other ways and ensure their safety. Jewish advocates responded with outrage, viewing his decision as yet another snub to the community.

Critics argue that when a city’s leader cannot speak out against blatant antisemitic violence invoking the darkest historical libels, it sends a message to hateful individuals that such cruelty is tolerable in New York.

With information from New York Post