A former senior producer for Zohran Mamdani's mayoral campaign ignited controversy with a statement on social media questioning whether a recent attack at a Manhattan synagogue was antisemitic, only to later delete the posts and concede it was a hate crime. Debra Saslaw, who co-founded the video agency Melted Solids that produced digital ads for Mamdani's successful campaign, initially posted on X that the attacker "was an orthodox jew who was lashing out at jews" and therefore not an "antisemitic attack." She linked to a New York Post article that described the incident as antisemitic.
The Manhattan District Attorney's Office has charged Larry Montes, 46, with multiple hate crime offenses for the incident at the Central Synagogue. According to Assistant District Attorney Ali Fazal, Montes admitted his actions were religiously motivated, calling worshippers "swine" and "fake Jews." Montes is accused of intentionally striking a 63-year-old worshipper, causing a laceration, and breaking two religious candle holders valued at approximately $10,000 each. Prosecutors also stated Montes expressed racial animus towards Black people, verbally attacking a 65-year-old African American security guard.
Saslaw's deleted post suggested she may have confused the attacker's religious identity, with one user asking if she had mixed up the incident with a "Jews for Jesus" adherent. Saslaw replied that she "might have been confused" and that a family member attended the synagogue. "I was obviously mistaken," Saslaw told The Post on Sunday, stating she was "mixed up" about whether Montes was Jewish. She maintained, "I never questioned whether it was a hate crime."
Melted Solids, the agency Saslaw co-founded, has also worked on campaigns for Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders and former Congressman Jamaal Bowman. Saslaw confirmed she is no longer associated with Mamdani or his campaign.