By Mayer Wochyniak
A prominent Jewish activist is calling on New York Governor Kathy Hochul to deploy the National Guard for next week’s Israel Day on Fifth parade, warning that Jewish marchers and supporters of Israel could be targeted as anti-Jewish hate crimes continue to dominate New York City’s hate crime numbers.
Dov Hikind, the former New York State Assemblyman and founder of Americans Against Antisemitism, said the NYPD should not be left to handle the event alone. His call comes ahead of the May 31 parade on Fifth Avenue, one of the largest public pro-Israel gatherings in the world and one of the most visible Jewish events in New York.
The parade is scheduled to run from 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. along Fifth Avenue from 62nd Street to 74th Street. This year’s theme is “Proud Americans, Proud Zionists.” Organizers have already announced security restrictions, including limited in-person viewing areas and a ban on backpacks and other items in the viewing area.
Hikind said his request is not a criticism of the NYPD, but a recognition of the current threat environment facing Jews in New York. His concern is not only what could happen inside the secured parade route, but what could happen before and after the event as Jews and supporters of Israel move through the city wearing kippahs, carrying Israeli flags, or displaying other Jewish and Israeli symbols.
That concern is not abstract. According to New York City data released earlier this year, 55 percent of confirmed hate crimes in the first quarter of 2026 were antisemitic, even though Jews make up roughly 10 percent of the city’s population. Statewide, Governor Hochul’s own office said anti-Jewish crimes continued to be the most common bias crimes reported in New York, comprising 51 percent of all hate crimes.
The Jewish Community Relations Council of New York, which organizes the parade, is not joining Hikind’s call for the National Guard. JCRC-NY CEO Mark Treyger said the organization has confidence in the NYPD and Commissioner Jessica Tisch and is working with law enforcement and the Community Security Initiative, the security partnership of JCRC-NY and UJA-Federation of New York.
Hochul’s office has not committed to sending in the National Guard. According to reports, the governor’s office said New York State Police will have an increased presence at the parade and that state officials are coordinating with the NYPD while monitoring social media and possible threats.
The debate over security comes as New York Jews are already facing a tense public climate. Earlier this month, anti-Israel protesters gathered outside Park East Synagogue in Manhattan during an Israeli real estate event. The protest turned chaotic, with clashes between demonstrators and police. Reports said at least one NYPD officer was injured and hospitalized.
Federal authorities have also recently accused an Iraqi national with alleged ties to Kata’ib Hizballah and the IRGC of trying to arrange attacks in the United States, including against a Jewish institution in New York. Prosecutors said the suspect allegedly discussed payment for a bombing operation with someone he believed was a co-conspirator but who was actually an undercover source.
The Israel Day parade has also become a political flashpoint. New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani is not expected to attend, breaking with a tradition followed by previous mayors. Mamdani, a critic of Israel and supporter of the BDS movement, has said his decision not to attend does not affect the city’s obligation to provide security for the event or protect Jewish New Yorkers.
For many in the Jewish community, that distinction is not enough. The parade is not simply a cultural event. It is a public declaration of Jewish identity and support for Israel at a time when both have become targets in New York streets, campuses and public institutions.
Hikind’s demand for the National Guard places Hochul in the middle of a larger question now facing Jewish communities across North America. How much security is enough when Jews are not only asking to gather, but asking to gather visibly, publicly and safely?
New York’s answer, at least for now, appears to be increased police coordination, more state police and confidence in existing security planning. Hikind and those backing him say that is not enough.
For Jewish New Yorkers preparing to march down Fifth Avenue with Israeli flags next Sunday, the issue is not theoretical. It is the difference between a parade that celebrates Jewish pride and one that must first survive the security reality surrounding it.
