Mayor Mamdani Belatedly Denounces ‘We Support Hamas’ Chants

There was a protest Thursday night in Queens outside a synagogue and a school. Protesters who turned up waved Palestinian flags and chanted “Say it loud, say it clear, we support Hamas here.”

Roughly 200 protesters were caught on camera chanting support for the terrorist organization as they waved Palestinian flags outside the Young Israel of Kew Gardens Hills synagogue in Queens.

“Say it loud, say it clear, we support Hamas here,” the group could be heard shouting as cops barricaded them across the street from the synagogue.

On the opposite side of the street, a crowd of about 50 furious counter-protesters waved Israeli flags as they chanted, “USA, USA, USA” in an attempt to drown them out…

The protest was organized by the Palestinian Assembly for Liberation PAL-Awda to decry the sale of “stolen” land in the West Bank.

This wasn’t the only chant they engaged in.

Shouts from the PAL-Awda side also included “Globalize the intifada,” the slogan that Mamdani drew fire for declining to condemn during the election season. He has said he would “discourage” the use of the phrase, which police in London and other cities have recently said they would begin to treat as criminal because of its association with violence against Jews.

Some New York elected officials were quick to denounce the chanting. Here’s Rep. Ritchie Torres:

Activists protested outside a synagogue, chanting, “Say it loud, say it clear, we support Hamas here.”

Whatever the amnesia surrounding 10/7, the truth must never be forgotten: Hamas murdered, maimed, mutilated, raped, and tortured thousands of innocent Israelis. It is—and has… pic.twitter.com/JeGh1XzA2A

— Ritchie Torres (@RitchieTorres) January 9, 2026

Activists protested outside a synagogue, chanting, “Say it loud, say it clear, we support Hamas here.”

Whatever the amnesia surrounding 10/7, the truth must never be forgotten: Hamas murdered, maimed, mutilated, raped, and tortured thousands of innocent Israelis. It is—and has always been—a barbaric oppressor of its own people.

Support for Hamas is not an expression of empathy for Palestinians; it is an expression of antipathy toward Jews and Israelis.  Hate has no place in NYC.

Rep. Mike Lawler called it insane.

This is in Queens, NY. Support for a terrorist organization. Insane. https://t.co/q4XVp3pWZ3

— Mike Lawler (@lawler4ny) January 9, 2026

NY City Council Speaker Julie Menin called it “vile antisemitism.”

Openly and proudly sympathizing with Hamas, especially while standing in the largely Jewish community of Kew Gardens Hills, stokes fear and division.

I will continue to fight against vile antisemitism such as this, and I urge everyone to come together at this time to combat… https://t.co/9N4PnLQKQG

— Speaker Julie Menin (@SpeakerMenin) January 9, 2026

Chuck Schumer called it antisemitic.

Let’s be clear: Hamas is a terrorist organization committed to the destruction of Jews while imposing its brutal rule on Palestinians.

Chanting support for Hamas is antisemitic and unacceptable. This hate must have no place in NYC, in the U.S. or around the world, and must be… https://t.co/q25BYGlqEd

— Chuck Schumer (@SenSchumer) January 9, 2026

Gov. Kathy Hochul called it disgusting and dangerous.

Hamas is a terrorist organization that calls for the genocide of Jews.

No matter your political beliefs, this type of rhetoric is disgusting, it’s dangerous, and it has no place in New York. pic.twitter.com/Uz74y6uHBB

— Governor Kathy Hochul (@GovKathyHochul) January 9, 2026

Meanwhile, Mayor Mamdani stayed quiet last night and all of this morning. He finally gave a statement while leaving a public event this afternoon.

The governor, City Council speaker, borough president, congressional representative and local assemblymember all denounced the language in statements posted to social media. Mayor Zohran Mamdani took a different approach.

His press team and social media accounts had made no mention of the events by noon Friday as video of the chant captured millions of views on social media and was shared widely by elected officials from both parties…

Mamdani’s first public comment on the pro-Hamas demonstration did not come in a press release or social media post, but was offered in response to a question from POLITICO after a Brooklyn Congressional campaign stop for one of his allies. As he was leaving the event, Mamdani briefly addressed the protestors’ chants.

“That language is wrong,” Mamdani said Friday, while being escorted to his vehicle. “I think that language has no place in New York City.”

The language is wrong? 

If a group were to chant “We support the Klan here” in a black neighborhood in New York, would it be enough for the mayor to wait 20 hours and they say “The language is wrong.” I really doubt that’s what Mamdani would say in that case or that it would take him a whole day to say it. He would (correctly) condemn the chanters as bigots and probably have some choice words for them as well.

But when it comes to pro-Hamas chanters, it feels like his heart just isn’t in it. Who could have guessed this would happen. Oh, right, everyone who was paying attention to his inability to say Hamas should be disarmed.

Editor’s Note: Do you enjoy Hot Air’s conservative reporting that takes on the radical left and woke media? Support our work so that we can continue to bring you the truth.

Join Hot Air VIP and use promo code FIGHT to receive 60% off your membership.