NEW YORK — Following a series of antisemitic incidents in New York City, including acts of intimidation targeting Jewish communities and rising public displays of antisemitic hatred, World Jewish Congress President Ronald S. Lauder issued the following statement:
“The events of this week have exposed a disgraceful failure of leadership from elected officials in New York, home to the largest Jewish community outside of Israel. It’s now clear that Governor Hochul’s endorsement of Mayor Mamdani means that she supports his anti-Jewish policies.
Antisemitism is exploding in plain sight, and too many leaders continue to treat it as a political inconvenience rather than a public emergency.
Swastikas in Jewish neighborhoods. Rioters surrounding synagogues. Jewish New Yorkers being intimidated in the streets of America’s largest city. If any other minority community were facing this level of coordinated hatred and intimidation, there would be immediate outrage and uncompromising action.
Silence, hesitation, and half-measures are no longer acceptable.
Governor Hochul and Mayor Mamdani must stop offering reactions after Jews are already threatened and start confronting antisemitism aggressively. Jewish New Yorkers should not have to wonder whether they will be attacked.
The normalization of antisemitism is a stain on this city and this country. History has already shown us what happens when hatred is tolerated in its early stages. We will not stand by while it escalates further.”
