It appears that Zohran Mamdani has yet to fully understand that he’s now the mayor of America’s largest city, and that he’s no longer this bit player activist in the New York Assembly.
And members of the NYPD would love for him to figure that out so their job would be easier.
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Mamdani is urging New Yorkers to take to the streets to protest Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during his visit to New York City, a move that has drawn criticism from some members of the New York Police Department.
The call for demonstrations comes after a demanding stretch for the NYPD, which recently provided security for several major events, including the FIFA World Cup, Independence Day celebrations, and the America 250 festivities that attracted millions of visitors.
Critics argue that encouraging additional large-scale protests will place even greater demands on law enforcement resources.
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“The mayor’s activist posturing puts police officers on the street in a terrible position,” NYPD Police Benevolent Association President Patrick Hendry said, per the New York Post.
“Protests during the UN General Assembly are nothing new, but when the mayor of the city is actively calling for demonstrations, violent agitators will assume they have permission to cause as much havoc as possible,” he added.
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“Those same agitators know that the NYPD’s protest response is already hamstrung by the dangerous lawsuit settlement the city signed over the PBA’s opposition,” said Hendry.
“The mayor’s heated rhetoric could be enough to push demonstrations over the edge into chaos.”
Since before his mayoral campaign, Mamdani has been a vocal critic of Netanyahu, with some critics saying his criticisms of Israel in general smack of anti-Semitism.
During the campaign, he said he would seek to have Netanyahu arrested if he visited New York City, citing the 2024 warrant issued by the International Criminal Court over alleged war crimes in Gaza.
This week, however, Mamdani acknowledged that he does not have the legal authority to carry out such an arrest.
He instead encouraged New Yorkers to protest Netanyahu’s visit, a move critics say will require additional security and crowd-management efforts from the NYPD, The Post continued.
“This is a city where, if anyone feels a level of frustration or opposition, protest is something that we will always respect,” Mamdani told reporters at City Hall this week.
“That New Yorkers can express themselves, whether they are in support or in opposition, no matter on whatever topic,” he said.
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“And I’ve always said that when we respect our Constitution, we also respect our First Amendment,” he claimed.
The NYPD recently managed an exceptionally busy summer that brought an unprecedented influx of visitors to the city.
Officers worked extended 12-hour shifts to provide security for the additional crowds and major public events, successfully carrying out those responsibilities.
Critics now argue that the mayor’s call for large-scale protests will place further demands on an already heavily tasked police force.
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“Was he serious?” one incredulous Manhattan cop asked The Post.
“Cops just came off a crazy six weeks between the Knicks and the World Cup working long hours every day, and now he’s going to subject them to unnecessary problems,” the officer added, per The Post.
One Brooklyn offier described Mamdani to The Post “nothing more than a cheap politician looking for cheap headlines” who knew — or should have known — that he “didn’t have the power” to arrest the Israeli prime minister.
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Another NYPD vet added, “When will he realize that he is not an activist anymore?”
“He should be governing the city and trying to keep the peace, instead of inciting a riot with his rhetoric,” he said.
“He is basically telling the crazy people to do what they want, and there will be no repercussions. If a cop gets hurt, it will be on him, but that is the least of his worries,” the officer added.
This article may contain commentary which reflects the author’s opinion.
