A 96-year-old Auschwitz survivor, Jerry Wartski, has stated that he now conceals his Star of David necklace while walking in New York City due to a perceived rise in antisemitism. Wartski, who lost his parents in the Holocaust, believes that elements within the Democratic Party and the Democratic Socialists of America are fostering an environment that makes Jewish people feel unsafe.
"I cover up my Star of David chain under my shirt when I walk outside now," Wartski told the New York Post in a recent interview. He drew parallels between the current climate and the period leading up to the Third Reich's rise in Europe. Wartski, who survived two ghettos and Auschwitz before his father died in the Nordhausen concentration camp just before liberation, expressed disillusionment with the Democratic Party, which he feels is influenced by socialists, communists, and radical Islamists.
Wartski specifically criticized Mayor Zohran Mamdani, describing him as a "big antisemite" for his support of the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) campaign against Israel. Wartski stated he did not vote for Mamdani. Mamdani, the city's first Muslim mayor, has been a vocal critic of Israel and participated in protests against the conflict in Gaza.
Despite his current concerns about safety in New York and the United States, Wartski noted he has had a successful life in the city, having run a sweater-knitting business before entering real estate. He previously criticized Vice President Kamala Harris for comparing former President Donald Trump to Hitler. Wartski expressed support for former President Trump's stance against Iran and for Republican Bruce Blakeman for governor.