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NYPD blasts Mamdani after he urges mass protests over Netanyahu visit

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Just days after conceding that New York City has no legal authority to arrest Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Mayor Zohran Mamdani is drawing fresh criticism for encouraging New Yorkers to protest the Israeli leader when he arrives for the United Nations General Assembly this fall.

Speaking at City Hall after releasing a video explaining that the city cannot enforce an International Criminal Court warrant, Mamdani defended public demonstrations as a core New York tradition.

“This is a city where, if anyone feels a level of frustration or opposition, protest is something that we will always respect.”

He continued:

“That New Yorkers can express themselves, whether they are in support or in opposition, no matter on whatever topic.”

Mamdani added:

“I’ve always said that when we respect our Constitution, we also respect our First Amendment.”

Those remarks did little to reassure the men and women who will be responsible for policing those demonstrations.

Patrick Hendry, president of the New York City Police Benevolent Association, accused the mayor of making an already difficult security situation even more dangerous.

“The mayor’s activist posturing puts police officers on the street in a terrible position.”

Hendry warned that anti-Israel demonstrations surrounding the U.N. General Assembly are already among the city’s most challenging annual security events.

“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 that recent legal restrictions on protest policing have already limited officers’ response options.

“The mayor’s heated rhetoric could be enough to push demonstrations over the edge into chaos.”

Scott Munro, president of the NYPD Detectives’ Endowment Association, argued that Mamdani has failed to adjust from campaign activist to chief executive.

“Mayor Mamdani still acts like he’s leading a protest movement instead of running the largest city in America.”

Munro even suggested that police unions organize a lawful protest outside Gracie Mansion to remind the mayor what large demonstrations can mean for neighborhoods, residents and law enforcement.

The criticism follows Mamdani’s public reversal earlier this week.

During his mayoral campaign, he repeatedly pledged to arrest Netanyahu if the Israeli leader entered New York, citing the International Criminal Court’s 2024 arrest warrant.

After consulting city lawyers, however, Mamdani acknowledged New York has no independent authority to execute such a warrant.

Still, he maintained that Netanyahu should face prosecution.

In a video posted online, Mamdani called Netanyahu:

“A war criminal.”

He added:

“Benjamin Netanyahu is not welcome in New York City.”

While conceding the city cannot act on its own, Mamdani urged the federal government to recognize the ICC warrant instead. President Trump quickly dismissed the idea.

Writing on social media earlier this week, Trump declared:

“Benjamin Netanyahu will not be arrested, in any way, shape, or form, while in the United States of America.”

Netanyahu is expected to visit New York in September to address the United Nations General Assembly, an event that historically draws large demonstrations from both supporters and critics of Israel.

Law enforcement officials say they’ll once again prepare for massive crowds—but many officers believe the mayor’s latest comments have unnecessarily raised the temperature before the Israeli leader has even landed.

DBS WIRE SOURCES:

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