ADL Launches “Mamdani Monitor” Amid Fears of Rising Antisemitism in NYC

The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) unveiled an unprecedented initiative to closely track the incoming administration of New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, citing concerns over his history of anti-Israel rhetoric and associations with individuals accused of antisemitism.

ADL CEO Jonathan Greenblatt stated the “Mamdani Monitor” and a new antisemitism hotline were essential to “protect Jewish New Yorkers during a period of unprecedented antisemitism” in the city, which houses the world’s largest Jewish population outside Israel. He emphasized that Mamdani had “promoted antisemitic narratives, associated with individuals who have a history of antisemitism, and demonstrated intense animosity toward the Jewish state.”

The initiative follows Mamdani’s election as mayor, a 34-year-old self-described democratic socialist and BDS movement supporter, in one of the city’s most contentious races. The ADL’s efforts include a NYC Antisemitism Tipline for reporting harassment or threats against Jewish individuals and institutions, enhanced research to scrutinize Mamdani’s policy decisions, and a public tracker detailing actions affecting the Jewish community.

Greenblatt criticized Mamdani’s advocacy for the BDS campaign, calling it “antisemitic” and linking it to violence against Jews. He asserted that the movement “seeks to delegitimize the Jewish state” and warned of its harmful consequences.

The ADL cited alarming data: 976 antisemitic incidents were recorded in New York City in 2024, the highest in any U.S. city, with 54% of hate crimes targeting Jews. Jewish organizations such as the UJA-Federation of New York and the New York Solidarity Network expressed alarm over Mamdani’s election, calling his views “fundamentally at odds with our community’s deepest convictions.”

Mamdani’s campaign included assertions that Israel committed “genocide in Gaza” and resistance to condemning the slogan “globalize the intifada,” sparking accusations of antisemitism. In his victory speech, he pledged to “stand steadfast alongside Jewish New Yorkers,” but critics dismissed his remarks as insincere.

The ADL vowed to remain vigilant, with Greenblatt declaring, “We will be relentless and unyielding in our work to ensure the safety and security of all Jewish New Yorkers.”