Democratic New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez condemned a group of protesters on Friday after they marched through a predominantly Jewish neighborhood in Queens, chanting in support of Hamas. The march drew attention when an X user posted a video of the event, which Ocasio-Cortez reposted with her rebuke.
In the video, protesters are seen marching while chanting, “Say it loud, say it clear, we support Hamas here.” The footage shows a nighttime scene with demonstrators holding Palestinian flags and signs behind metal barriers, as a police officer walks across a crosswalk in the foreground. Ocasio-Cortez highlighted the location of the march as a key factor in her criticism.
“Hey so marching into a predominantly Jewish neighborhood and leading with a chant saying ‘we support Hamas’ is a disgusting and antisemitic thing to do,” Ocasio-Cortez wrote in her post. “Pretty basic!”
The protest occurred on Thursday in Queens, organized by the group Pal-Awda, which had shared social media posts identifying a local synagogue’s location and accusing it of hosting an event related to Israeli real estate activity. Demonstrators gathered outside the synagogue, voicing pro-Hamas slogans amid a broader anti-Israel demonstration.
The event led to disruptions in the area, prompting early closures of a daycare, two elementary schools, and a religious site after police notified them of the protest. New York State Assemblyman Sam Berger addressed the impact on the community in a statement.
“A safety perimeter is in place, and I am confident in the NYPD’s ability to keep the community safe. That being said, I am extremely concerned that this protest is forcing a daycare, two elementary schools, and a house of worship to close early, upending the daily lives of working New Yorkers,” Berger wrote. He called on Democratic New York City Council Member Zohran Mamdani to condemn the demonstration immediately, noting the mayor’s previous statements of support for Jewish neighbors.
Mamdani responded by denouncing the language used at the protest, where pro-Palestinian demonstrators expressed support for Hamas, and pro-Israel counter-protesters used racial and homophobic slurs. He stated that such rhetoric and conduct were unacceptable and had no place in New York City.
This incident follows previous scrutiny of Mamdani. In October, he faced criticism for not stating whether Hamas should disarm and relinquish control of Gaza as part of a peace deal proposed by President Donald Trump. When asked, Mamdani said, “I believe that any future here in New York City is one that we have to make sure that’s affordable for all. And as it pertains to Israel and Palestine that we have to ensure that there is peace. And that is the future we have to fight for.”
