Hochul Declines to Criticize Mamdani's Antisemitism Plan
New York Governor Kathy Hochul dodged questions regarding Mayor Zohran Mamdani's strategic plan to combat antisemitism, which has drawn criticism for its lack of definition for the term.
Governor Kathy Hochul on Tuesday declined to offer an opinion on Mayor Zohran Mamdani's recently released plan to combat antisemitism, a strategy that has faced backlash for its refusal to define the term or acknowledge Zionism.
Mamdani, a proponent of the Palestinian cause, has been criticized for his stance on Israel and for not explicitly defining antisemitism in his plan.
“The administration is taking steps in the right direction, I think we should applaud that,” Hochul stated Tuesday, following an unrelated press conference. She added that she was unfamiliar with the specifics of Mamdani's report, but asserted that New York has its own definition and a robust plan in place.
While New York State's Human Rights Law does not contain a specific definition of antisemitism, Governor Hochul issued a proclamation in 2022 that did include one. Her office was briefed on Mamdani's plan and the omission of an antisemitism definition on Monday evening, according to sources.
Many advocates argue that the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance's (IHRA) working definition of antisemitism provides a more effective legal framework for prosecuting hate crimes against Jewish people. The IHRA definition states that antisemitism is “a certain perception of Jews, which may be expressed as hatred toward Jews,” and includes both rhetorical and physical manifestations directed at Jewish individuals, property, community institutions, and religious facilities.
State Assemblyman Sam Berger, a Democrat from Queens, has sponsored the HOPE Act, a bill intended to codify a definition of antisemitism into law. He expressed gratitude for the governor's stance but emphasized the need for a legally binding document, stating, “a non-legally binding document is not going to cut it.”
Hochul's avoidance of direct criticism comes as she is in a competitive reelection race against Republican Bruce Blakeman. Data released in September indicated a nearly 16% surge in hate crimes compared to the previous year, with Jewish-motivated crimes rising by 8%.