New York Officials Condemn Pro-Hamas Chants at Queens Protest amid Antisemitism Concerns
Elected officials including Gov. Hochul, Rep. Ocasio-Cortez and Mayor Mamdani condemned pro-Hamas chants at a Queens protest that forced closures and raised antisemitism concerns nationwide.
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Overview
Pro-Palestinian demonstrators marched in Kew Gardens Hills, Queens, waving Palestinian flags and chanting 'we support Hamas,' video of the event spread widely on social media.
Governor Kathy Hochul, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Mayor Zohran Mamdani and other Democrats issued condemnations, calling the chants antisemitic, dangerous and unacceptable in New York.
NYPD established safety perimeters; the demonstration led several Jewish institutions, including a synagogue, two schools and a daycare, to close early amid security concerns.
Some commentators and political opponents highlighted officials' prior statements and policy decisions, arguing inconsistent responses to pro-Hamas protests have deepened political controversy.
Hamas is designated as a terrorist organization by the U.S.; federal law bars material support, and leaders face pressure to protect communities while preserving constitutional protest rights.
Analysis
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FAQ
New York officials say chants like “we support Hamas” are antisemitic and dangerous because Hamas is a U.S.-designated terrorist organization that calls for the genocide of Jews and was responsible for the October 7, 2023 massacre in Israel, so openly supporting it near Jewish institutions is seen as threatening and intimidating to Jewish communities.[1]
At the Queens protest in Kew Gardens Hills, anti-Israel activists gathered outside a synagogue hosting an Israeli real estate event, waved Palestinian flags, and some chanted “we support Hamas,” prompting the NYPD to set up safety perimeters and leading a daycare, two elementary schools, and a house of worship to close early over security concerns.[1]
Gov. Kathy Hochul, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Mayor Zohran Mamdani, Attorney General Letitia James, and other officials publicly condemned the “we support Hamas” chants as vile, antisemitic, dangerous, and unacceptable, stressing that Hamas is a terrorist group and that such rhetoric has no place in New York while also affirming the right to peaceful protest.[1]
Hamas is formally designated as a foreign terrorist organization by the U.S. government, and federal law prohibits providing it with material support, but general political speech, even offensive or extremist, is usually protected under the First Amendment unless it crosses into specific, actionable support, incitement, or coordination, which is why officials emphasize both public safety and constitutional protest rights.
The Queens protest occurred amid a broader rise in antisemitic incidents in New York; the ADL reports that New York led the U.S. in reported antisemitic incidents in 2024, with many tied to Israel- and Zionism-related protests, including gatherings that featured overt antisemitic language or glorification of terrorism similar to pro-Hamas chants.
