Not messing around': Heavy NYPD presence, screenings planned for Sunday's Israel Day parade without Mamdani | amNewYork

The mayor reaffirmed he will not attend Israel Day on Fifth on Sunday, while his police commissioner will help lead the parade as an honorary grand marshal. The NYPD described the event’s security as its most extensive plan ever for the annual Manhattan march expected to draw tens of thousands along Fifth Avenue. The mayor said there are no current, known, specific, or credible threats, but the city will remain vigilant and coordinate with state and federal partners. Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch accepted an honorary grand marshal role and said security is heightened due to rising antisemitism and threats targeting Jewish communities since the Oct. 7, 2023 Hamas attack.

"Mayor Zohran Mamdani reaffirmed on Thursday that he will skip Sunday's Israel Day on Fifth parade, but his police commissioner will help lead it as an honorary grand marshal while overseeing what the NYPD described as its most extensive security plan ever for the annual Manhattan march. Mamdani joined Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch at One Police Plaza on May 29 to outline security preparations for the parade, which is expected to draw tens of thousands of people to Fifth Avenue this weekend."

"The mayor, a staunch critic of the Israeli government and advocate for Palestinian rights, reiterated that he will not attend the event, as outlined on the campaign trail last year, but stressed that his absence would not affect the city's responsibility to keep participants safe. We expect tens of thousands of New Yorkers and visitors to gather along Fifth Avenue for this event, and while I will not be attending, our administration has been preparing for weeks to ensure the parade is safe for all those who take part, Mamdani said."

"Mamdani said there are no current, known, specific, or credible threats against the parade, but said the city would remain vigilant and coordinate with state and federal partners. As the mayor of our city, I take seriously my responsibility to protect the safety and well-being of every New Yorker and every event, regardless of my attendance, he added. Tisch, who said she accepted an invitation to serve as one of this year's honorary grand marshals, said the parade is taking place in a heightened threat environment amid a rise in antisemitism and threats targeting Jewish communities since the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel."

"In that threat environment, to be blunt, we are not messing around with security at this year's parade, Tisch said. Tisch accepted an invitation to serve as one of this year's honorary grand marshals while overseeing the NYPD’s most extensive security plan ever for the annual Manhattan march. The briefing at One Police Plaza outlined preparations for an event expected to draw tens of thousands to Fifth Avenue this weekend."

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