Mayor Mamdani to Skip Manhattan Columbus Day Parade, Drawing Criticism
The mayor's absence from the annual parade is seen by some Italian-American leaders as a slight to their community and heritage.
Mayor Zohran Mamdani will not attend Manhattan's Christopher Columbus Day parade on Monday, a decision that has drawn criticism from leaders within the city's Italian-American community.
Mamdani has previously voiced strong opposition to Christopher Columbus, characterizing the explorer as a colonist responsible for the abuse and displacement of Native Americans. In June 2020, he posted a photo on social media showing him giving a middle finger to a Columbus statue in Queens, accompanied by the statement, "Take it down."
Angelo Vivolo, chairman of the Columbus Heritage Coalition, which represents over 50 Italian-American organizations, stated that Mamdani's no-show "confirms it" that the mayor is "disrespectful to the Italian-American community." Vivolo added, "We know he hates Columbus. But the parade celebrates the rich culture and heritage of Italian-Americans."
This is not the first instance where Mamdani's actions have been perceived as dismissive of the Italian-American community. Earlier this year, his administration released an ethnic enclave map of New York City that highlighted lesser-known communities but notably omitted traditional Italian neighborhoods such as Little Italy and Arthur Avenue in the Bronx.
Mamdani did, however, release a video statement celebrating Italian Heritage Month, in which he acknowledged the contributions of Italian immigrants to the city's development and honored figures like East Harlem Representative Vito Marcantonio. The mayor, who has been a vocal critic of Israel, also boycotted the Israel Day parade in May.
