Pro-Hamas Chants Stir Controversy In New York: What's Next For Mayor Mamdani?

New York: New York City saw sharp political reactions this week after a group of demonstrators chanted pro-Hamas slogans in Queens, a neighbourhood with a large Jewish community. 

Videos of the protest showed people waving Palestinian flags and shouting, "Say it loud, say it clear, we support Hamas here." The footage spread quickly on social media and triggered criticism from politicians across the city and state. 

How did leaders respond?

Mayor Zohran Mamdani, who took office just days ago, moved to clarify his stance on the incident. He called the chants "wrong" and said that support for a designated terrorist group had "no place in our city." 

Mamdani also said his team was working with the New York City Police Department (NYPD) to protect public safety and ensure people could safely enter and exit houses of worship. 

As I said earlier today, chants in support of a terrorist organization have no place in our city. We will continue to ensure New Yorkers’ safety entering and exiting houses of worship as well as the constitutional right to protest. pic.twitter.com/0J4GXWigiv

— Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani (@NYCMayor) January 9, 2026

The condemnation didn’t stop with the mayor.

New York Governor Kathy Hochul called the rhetoric “disgusting” and “dangerous,” saying the chanting had no place in the city. 

Attorney General Letitia James labelled Hamas a terrorist organisation and said New Yorkers do not support terrorists.

US Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who represents part of Queens, also spoke out. She described the chants outside the synagogue as “disgusting and antisemitic,” and warned that such behaviour crosses a moral line, especially in a Jewish neighbourhood. 

Why is this a big deal now?

The protest happened outside a synagogue at night and sparked immediate safety concerns in the community. Nearby schools and the place of worship adjusted schedules in response to the demonstration. The slogans amplified already tense debates about public safety, free speech and communal relations in the city. 

For Mayor Mamdani, the incident arrives at a delicate moment. He is the city’s first Democratic Socialist mayor in decades and has attracted intense scrutiny over his positions on protests and the Israel-Palestine conflict. Some critics say he was slow to condemn the chants forcefully enough, while others argue he has struck a careful balance between upholding free speech and rejecting support for terrorism.

What’s next?

City officials are urging calm and stressing the importance of peaceful protest. Police are maintaining presence at sensitive sites. But the political fallout could linger as leaders and communities demand clearer commitments against extremist support in public demonstrations.