Courage is not just what you say when the cameras are rolling. It is what you stand for when the questions get uncomfortable.
New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani has condemned the deadly shooting at Sydney’s Bondi Beach as a “vile act of antisemitic terror,” yet he continues to dodge questions about his previous reluctance to denounce the phrase “globalize the intifada,” a slogan many view as a direct call to violence against Jewish people.
The attack in Australia left at least 15 people dead and dozens wounded during Hanukkah celebrations. Australian authorities have classified the incident as an act of terrorism specifically targeting the Jewish community. Police identified the suspected attackers as a father and his adult son. The father was killed at the scene by responding officers, while the son was shot and remains in critical condition at a local hospital.
Mamdani, who made history last month as the first Muslim elected mayor of America’s most populous city, issued a statement condemning the violence. But when pressed about whether this tragedy has changed his position on the “globalize the intifada” phrase, his office went silent. Multiple requests for comment went unanswered.
This silence speaks volumes, particularly for a mayor-elect who has already faced strained relations with significant portions of New York City’s Jewish community. The phrase “globalize the intifada” has been chanted at protests across American cities, often in contexts that Jewish leaders say promote violence and intimidation against their communities.
The timing of this attack, occurring during Hanukkah, underscores the targeted nature of the violence. Australian investigators are working to determine whether the attackers had connections to broader terrorist networks or if this was a coordinated strike against Jewish worshippers celebrating one of their faith’s most important holidays.
For Mamdani, the path forward requires more than carefully worded statements about faraway tragedies. Leadership demands clarity on matters of principle, especially when those principles involve the safety and dignity of constituents he has sworn to serve.
The Jewish community in New York City, one of the largest in the world, deserves to know where their mayor stands. They deserve to know whether phrases that call for violence against them will be met with unequivocal condemnation or continued equivocation.
This is not about politics. This is about moral clarity in the face of evil. When 15 people lie dead at a beach in Sydney, murdered for their faith during a holy celebration, the response from American leaders should be unambiguous.
Mamdani has an opportunity to demonstrate the kind of leadership New York needs. He can clarify his position, denounce all forms of antisemitic rhetoric without qualification, and build bridges with a community that has every reason to feel uncertain about his administration.
The question is whether he will seize that opportunity or continue to let his silence define his stance. New Yorkers, and particularly Jewish New Yorkers, are watching and waiting for an answer that should not be this difficult to provide.
Related: Bipartisan Group Lobbies Senate After House Vote Challenges Trump Federal Worker Policy
