Zohran Mamdani booed and branded a ‘traitor’ at vigil for October 7 victims

Several hundred pro-Palestinian protesters disrupted a vigil for victims of the October 7 attacks at New York’s Union Square Park on Wednesday evening, forcing organizers to relocate the ceremony to a nearby area behind police barriers.

The event, organized by the Israeli collective Israelis for Peace, proceeded after demonstrators occupied the space where it was due to take place. Participants lit electric candles and held signs reading “Not one more life.”

New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani attended the vigil and was heckled by protesters who learned he was present. Demonstrators shouted “Traitor!” and “Zohran, what do you have to say?

How many boots have you licked today?” They also accused the mayor, who has been critical of Israel, of bowing to “Zionist” pressure. Mamdani remained silent during the ceremony and did not respond.

Megaphones, drums and chants repeatedly drowned out the speeches. Some demonstrators shouted “Long live Hamas” and “Gaza will be freed.” One addressed the organizers directly, saying: “We do not want peace with the Israelis. We sent yours to hell on October 7.”

Protesters also displayed a Hamas flag and a portrait of Yahya Sinwar, one of the principal architects of the October 7, 2023, attacks. Some grabbed electric candles and mockingly sang the traditional Jewish song “Hava Nagila.”

Despite the disruptions, participants continued the vigil, reading testimonies from Israeli and Palestinian victims and reciting a Muslim prayer. Brad Lander, a Democratic candidate for Congress, read the words of the mother of a 20-year-old man killed at the Nova music festival.

The ceremony ended with the Mourner’s Kaddish as demonstrators shouted “Death to the IDF.” Pro-Israeli activists carrying Israeli flags later exchanged words with the pro-Palestinian protesters, while barriers kept the groups apart.

No physical confrontations or arrests were reported.