The 2026 Israel Day Parade drew over 50,000 marchers from around the region and even the world but what it lacked in bipartisan, almost universal support from New Yorkers it more than made up for in a defiant, joyful energy and spirit.
For the first time in anyone’s memory, a New York City mayor declined to march in the parade. As a Palestinian rights supporter, Mayor Zohran Mamdani has criticized Israel’s response to the Hamas terror attacks on Oct. 27, 2023.
Instead, the march was led by New York City Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch along with former mayor Mike Bloomberg. Other political luminaries and parade regulars included Senator Chuck Schumer; Governor Kathy Hochul; New York Attorney General Letitia James; NYS Comptroller Tom DiNapoli; city Comptroller Mark Levine; and city Council Speaker Julie Menin. Congressman Dan Goldman was also expected to march.
Governor Hochul did more than march, she signed the “Buffer Bill” – legislation that creates a 50-foot security perimeter between protests and houses of worship.
“Today we march in defiance and also to stand up for the values that define New York State since its very beginning,” Governor Hochul declared at the start of the march. “We will always be that bastion, that beacon of hope for others to be able to live the way they want to live, and practice their religious belief freely from harassment.
“That is why just one hour ago, I was proud to stand with our leaders from JCRC and UJA and other organizations to literally sign the ‘Buffer Bill’ — the first ever in the State of New York that says when you go to worship with your families, you should not have to endure harassment, intimidation or hatred from anyone.
“We’re going to stand up and make sure that you’re protected on our streets and in our subways and in our schools and our community centers, because this is who we are, my friends, and don’t let anyone else tell you otherwise. We stand up for each other. We are allies with one another, and hate against one is hate against all,” Governor Hochul declared.
Hochul’s Republican opponent, Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman, also took the opportunity to make himself – and his opposition to Mamdani- very visible, holding a rally and passing out campaign signs which a cluster of onlookers along the Fifth Avenue route held up. Blakeman, who after Mamdani’s election said he would erect a security “surveillance wall” between New York City and Nassau County, has attacked Mamdani as an antisemite because Mamdani loosened the definition of “antisemitism” to distinguish between hate speech and political criticism of the Israeli government.
(Blakeman’s surveillance wall consisted of AI video cameras with facial recognition, license plate readers, and increased police patrols and cooperation with ICE over immigration enforcement. The move prompted pushback from civil liberties advocates, still smarting from his formation of a secretive private militia but his “tough guy” persona and policies are central to Blakeman’s administration and his campaign for governor.)
Former Mayor Eric Adams also marched, and was greeted by a group of onlookers cheering, “We want you back.” Several on the sidelines and in the parade carried signs attacking Mamdani.
Israeli elected officials also joined, among them Amir Ohana, the speaker of the Knesset, Israel’s parliament; former UN Ambassador Magen David Adom Global President Gilad Erdan; Mayor Matah Katzman of Even-Yehuda; and Israel’s Ambassador to the United Nations Danny Danon, with a large contingent from Israel’s consulate.
The overarching theme for the 2026 march was “Proud Americans, Proud Zionists,” focusing on Jewish visibility, identity, pride and community solidarity, and highlighting the strong bonds between the United States and Israel, Israel’s history and its permanence. Signs read “Standing Together. Standing Proud.” “Israel Our History. Our Future.” “Stronger than Before. Thank you for standing with us.” “Unapologentically Zionist.”
The defiant vibe predominated, amidst a worrisome decline in support from Americans (especially a Democratic faction and young progressives) that could hurt Israel severely as that country will likely have to deal with generational war as a result of its short-sighted militancy in Iran and Lebanon as well as Gaza and the West Bank.
A growing number of Americans are demanding an end to the billions in military aid for Israel and much of the world has lost sympathy for the decades of terror Israelis have had to endure in face of Netanyahu and the Israeli right-wing’s abuses in Gaza, the West Bank and Lebanon. Even liberal American Jews have expressed opposition to Netanyahu and the direction his right wing extremists have taken Israel. Increasingly, support for Israel, once bipartisan, is being associated with Trump and the MAGA rightwing extremists, a partisan wedge that can only hurt Israel.
But that was not on the minds of the 50,000 who marched in the Israel Day Parade, nor the thousands of like-minded supporters who lined Fifth Avenue – albeit a shortened parade route – to cheer them on.
There was a joyous, triumphant, in-your-face pride, energy and clear demonstration of the unity of values and purpose they see between the United States and Israel.
Among the marchers, Holocaust survivors, American Veterans of Israel 1948, Jewish American Veterans, a huge contingent from Israel’s Consulate, the Judeo-Christian Zionist Congress and from Chinatown’s chamber of commerce.
More fanciful marchers included Philadelphia Mummers, two camels, bottle dancers from “Fiddler on the Roof,” and a contingent of Chai Riders motorcyclists.
Amidst heightened levels of antisemitism, anti-Israel and anti-Zionist acts and concern for terror attacks, the march this year came with an unprecedented level of security – streets were barricaded from Madison Avenue to Sixth Avenue, all onlookers had to go through security and were separated from the marchers by a buffer and barricades, the parade route was shortened, and there was an extra heavy police presence.
“As the mayor of our city, I take seriously my responsibility to protect the safety and well-being of every New Yorker and every event, regardless of my attendance,” Mayor Mamdani said at a press conference a week before.
As a result, there were few onlookers who were not somehow connected to the march, and no anti-Israel protesters along the route, though there was the regular, small group of ultra-orthodox outside the security perimeter who oppose Israel’s creation before the messiah.
A group of onlookers who were otherwise supportive of Israel but opposed to Netanyahu and his right wing government, waved signs saying reflecting their nuanced position: “The only hope: a shared Israel-Palestinian future” and “This Israeli Government belongs in the Hague, not in NYC”. Another tried to separate politics from supporting Israel’s security.
It took more than 2 ½ hours before all the marchers standing against Anti-Semitism, racism and bigotry got across the Brooklyn Bridge from Foley Square – an estimated 25,000 marching behind Senators Charles Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand, Governor Andrew Cuomo, Mayor Bill DeBlasio, and a slew of state and local leaders, marching in solidarity with Michael Miller, Executive VP & CEO of Jewish Community Relations Council of New York, Eric Goldstein, CEO of UJA Federation of NY, the Anti-Defamation League, American Jewish Congress, NY Board of Rabbis, and faith leaders across Brooklyn Bridge, with a singular message: “No Fear, No Hate”.
The
political leaders did not just come to give speeches and march, but to take
action.
Senator
Schumer said Congress would quadruple federal funding to $360 million to help
places of worship increase security – video cameras, doors, hired guards, and
$100 million to coordinate with local police to act more effectively to
prosecute hate crimes.
“America
has a culture of diversity and tolerance. Anti-Semitism and bigotry is a
national crisis…We will not stand for bigotry of any type,” Schumer said. “We
will not only speak and march, but act.”
Governor
Cuomo also announced $45 million in additional funding to protect New York’s
religious-based institutions, including parochial and private schools and
cultural centers. He said that there would be increased state police patrols in
Orthodox Jewish neighborhoods across the state, and has created a new state
police tip line for people to report incidents (1-877-NO-HATE-NY). Also, Cuomo
said he would introduce legislation to elevate hate crimes to the level of
domestic terrorism, and prosecuted as such.
Funding is being made
available through Requests for Applications under New York’s
Securing Communities Against Hate Crimes Grant Program. Created by
Governor Cuomo in 2017, the program provides funding to strengthen security
measures and prevent hate crimes against non-profit day care centers, community
centers, cultural museums, day camps andnon-public schools,which
may be vulnerable because of their ideology, beliefs or mission. Since the
program’s inception, more than 500 such projects have been supported by $25
million in state funding. The Governor also announced the creation of a
new tip line that New Yorkers should call if they experience bias or
discrimination – 1-877-NO-HATE-NY. Additionally, the Governor announced
that State Police will continue increased patrols and security in Orthodox
Jewish neighborhoods across the state.
“The recent rash of anti-Semitic and other hate-fueled
attacks in New York and across the nation are understandably causing anxiety,
but we will not be intimidated,” Governor Cuomo said.”In New York we stand up to
those who try to sow division and fear, and this new funding
will provide religious and cultural institutions the support they need to help
protect themselves and keep people safe. We will not let the cancer of hate and intolerance weaken us – we
will continue to stand up and denounce it every time it rears its ugly
head.”
Hate crime statistics
indicate a surge of anti-Semitism and hate crimes against the Jewish community,
nationally and in New York. Nearly half of all hate crimes in New York over the
last several years have been against the Jewish community. Last year, more than
half the hate crimes recorded in New York City, 229 (a modern city record, up
from 185 in 2018) were recorded against Jews – and these statistics do not
include hate crimes directed at Jews outside the five-boroughs, such as the the
slashing of five people attending a Chanukah service in a rabbi’s home in
Monsey, NY. The October 27, 2018 mass shooting at the Tree of Life Synagogue in
Pittsburgh and the recent terror attack at a kosher market in Jersey City, New
Jersey, in which a local Yeshiva and Catholic school faced gunfire, underscore
the need to protect Jewish institutions from violent extremism and
anti-Semitism.
The grants, which
will be directed by the New York State Division of the Budget,
provide up to $50,000 in funding for additional security training, cameras,
door-hardening, improved lighting, state-of-the-art technology and other
related security upgrades at each eligible facility. Organizations that operate
more than one facility have the opportunity to submit up
to five applications.
The program provides funding to strengthen security measures
and prevent hate crimes against non-profit day care centers, community centers,
cultural museums, day camps andnon-public schools,which
may be vulnerable because of their ideology, beliefs or mission. Since the
program’s inception, in 2017, more than 500 such projects have been supported
by $25 million in state funding.
The Hate Crimes Task Force was created last year to mitigate recent incidents of bias-motivated threats, harassment and violence in New York. As part of the Task Force, New York State Police, the Division of Human Rights and the Division of Criminal Justice Services engage local stakeholders and law enforcement agencies, and work to identify and investigate hate-motivated crimes and bias-related trends, community vulnerabilities and discriminatory practices.
The Governor also announced the creation of a new tip
line that New Yorkers should call if they experience bias or discrimination –
1-877-NO-HATE-NY. Additionally, the Governor announced that State Police
will continue increased patrols and security in Orthodox Jewish neighborhoods
across the state.
“I’m heartened to see this amazing show
of support and solidarity,” the Governor said at a press conference before the
march. “Literally over 10,000 people have shown up to show support and love for
the Jewish community. And that’s New York at her best. And it’s fitting.
Because what has happened in Brooklyn, what has happened in Monsey, New York
was an attack on every New Yorker. And every New Yorker has felt the pain.
Discrimination, racism, anti-Semitism is repugnant to every value that every
New Yorker’s holds dear. And it’s repugnant to every value that this country
represents. Racism and anti-Semitism is anti-American and we have to remember
that.
“It is ignorant of our history because to know the history of the Jewish community is to love and appreciate the Jewish community because New York would not be New Yorker without the Jewish community. It is intolerant of who we are as a people. It’s intolerant of our diversity and our humanity and it is also illegal. And while we’re here today in the spirit of solidarity and love, government must do more than just offer thoughts and prayers, government must act. This is illegal and it is government’s responsibility to protect the people of the State of New York and the State government will be doing just that. As soon as the Legislature comes back I’m going to propose a new law for the State of New York that calls this hate what it is – it is domestic terrorism. These are terrorists and they should be punished as such. We’re going to increase the State Police force and the Hate Crimes Task Force so we have more State Police in vulnerable communities.
“We are going to work with schools all across the state to make sure our young people are educated on our history and our diversity and the strength of that diversity. We’ll be working with faith leaders, because from every pulpit, every podium to every congregation in this state, we have to be condemning these acts.
“And today the state is going to make an additional $45 million available to non-public schools and religious institutions for security. We also ask every New Yorker to be involved in this crusade today. And if any New Yorker has any information about a possible attack or an attack that has happened, we ask them to be active and to help us thwart these attacks. We have a 1-800 number – 1-877-NO-HATE-NY. If you have any information, we have that tip line open, let’s all stand together and united.
“These acts of hate may not have started in New York – we’ve seen them across the nation – but these acts of hate must stop and end in the State of New York, and that’s New York at her best. Everyone today says the same thing: No hate in our state, period. We won’t tolerate it, we condemn it, we stand united against it and we are going to act against it. Let’s march.”
Here are more photo highlights from the Solidarity March:
