Jewish civil rights group demands answers from Mamdani after posts about antisemitism scrubbed from NYC mayor’s X account
A Jewish civil rights organization is seeking clarification from newly inaugurated Mayor Zohran Mamdani after previous posts regarding the fight against antisemitism were removed from the official mayoral X account, raising significant legal concerns.
The Democratic socialist, who is the first Muslim to hold the position of Mayor in New York City, has been accused of deleting two posts made by the previous Mayor, Eric Adams, which highlighted the city’s efforts to combat antisemitism. These posts were removed just hours before Mamdani took control of the account on his inauguration day, according to the National Jewish Advocacy Center.
The organization expressed deep concern over this action in a letter addressed to Mamdani, stating that the deletion of official tweets affirming the safety and protection of Jewish New Yorkers sends a troubling message, especially at a time when antisemitic incidents are on the rise.
The letter was also sent to the city’s Department of Investigation and the Conflicts of Interest Board, emphasizing that purging posts from the NYC Mayor X account without archiving them first may violate the city’s charter, as all social media posts are considered public records.
Mamdani’s spokesperson, Dora Pekec, clarified that the deleted posts are being archived and the removal was not based on their content. The Mayor’s commitment to combatting antisemitism remains unwavering, with plans to renew the Mayor’s Office to Combat Antisemitism and increase funding for the Office for the Prevention of Hate Crimes.
In his final act as Mayor, Eric Adams shared posts highlighting the city’s efforts against antisemitism, which were later removed when Mamdani assumed office. Mamdani has been criticized for his views on Israel and Palestine, with some questioning his support for a Jewish state.
Despite his controversial stances, Mamdani has attempted to build bridges with New York’s Jewish community, including appearing in a Hanukkah video with actor Mandy Patinkin. Following his inauguration, Mamdani signed an executive order that repealed several of Adams’ previous orders, including one adopting the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s definition of antisemitism, a move that has drawn criticism.
The National Jewish Advocacy Center concluded their letter to Mamdani by emphasizing that his actions in the early days of his administration will set the tone for his tenure, and that the removal of posts addressing antisemitism is not a promising start.
