NYC Mayor Funds Antisemitism Program Including Group Linked to Pro-Palestinian Activist

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has announced a new initiative to combat antisemitism, significantly increasing funding for the Partners Against the Hate (P.A.T.H.) program. This program includes the Arab American Association of New York (AAANY), an organization that has been criticized for its past support of pro-Palestinian protests, including those following the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack. The new initiative allocates $6.4 million in grants to P.A.T.H., doubling last year's funding. Additional investments will target security for Jewish institutions, educational programs, and the preservation of Jewish history and culture.

The Washington Examiner reported that AAANY was led for over a decade by Linda Sarsour, a pro-Palestinian activist recently denied entry into Israel. The organization itself has expressed support for pro-Palestinian demonstrations, citing social media posts as evidence. OpenTheBooks data indicates AAANY received $3.3 million from the city between 2017 and 2024, with Mamdani's administration continuing the partnership for hate crime prevention efforts.

Sarsour, who also serves as an advisor to the mayor, was barred from entering Israel in June based on recommendations from the Ministry of Diaspora Affairs and Combating Antisemitism. Minister Amichai Chikli stated the ban was due to Sarsour being a "leading participant in pro-Hamas protests in the US after October 7." Sarsour countered that her entry was denied because of her support for human rights, calling Israel an "apartheid regime" and urging the U.S. to stop funding it. Mamdani's office and AAANY did not respond to requests for comment from the Washington Examiner.