Acting NYC Mayor Randy Mastro Slams NYPD for ‘Vile’ Protest Response at Manhattan Synagogue
Acting New York City Mayor Randy Mastro sharply criticized the NYPD on Sunday for its handling of a heated anti-Israel protest outside a Manhattan synagogue, calling the response “unacceptable” and saying Jewish worshippers were left vulnerable.
Speaking on 77 WABC’s Cats Roundtable, Mastro said officers failed to keep demonstrators away from the entrance of Park East Synagogue on the Upper East Side, where about 200 protesters gathered Wednesday shouting anti-Israel slogans.
“Those protesters were too close to the entry of the synagogue,” Mastro said. “They said some very vile things. They never should have been that close — never should have gotten to that stage.”
Mastro emphasized that while protests are legal, the city must ensure that worshippers are not harassed or intimidated on their way to religious services.
“They were literally at the door, shouting things like ‘Globalize the Intifada’ and urging resistance,” he said. “That’s not acceptable in our city.”
The demonstrators were rallying against an event hosted by Nefesh B’Nefesh, an organization that helps Jewish people immigrate to Israel.
NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch had already apologized to synagogue members on Saturday, admitting that officers failed to keep the entrance clear. She told congregants the department “fell short” and should have created a secure zone that allowed people to move in and out of the building safely.
Mastro, currently serving as acting mayor while Eric Adams visits Israel and Uzbekistan, doubled down on the criticism.
“The police should have controlled that crowd more. They should have kept them farther from the entrance,” he said. “We have to protect our houses of worship so New Yorkers can practice their religion in peace.”
He warned that Jewish New Yorkers are increasingly feeling threatened.
“That’s what Jews are experiencing in our city,” Mastro said. “I never thought I’d see it in my life.”
Mastro added that the city must strike a “right balance” — allowing free speech while ensuring worshippers are not harassed or terrorized.
Adams was expected to return to New York on Sunday. Supervisors from Manhattan North Precinct had been responsible for the protest’s permit and security arrangements.
Tisch’s apology on Saturday received a standing ovation from the crowd of 150 congregants.
“Our plan didn’t include a frozen zone at the entrance,” the commissioner said. “As a result, the space outside your steps was chaotic.”
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