NYC Mayor Slams 'We Support Hamas' Chants: 'No Place in Our City'

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has condemned chants of 'we support Hamas' after a protest in a predominantly Jewish neighborhood in Queens. The incident has sparked widespread outrage and led to swift condemnation from local and national leaders. Several videos circulated on social media showed protesters waving Palestinian flags and chanting in support of Hamas, a group designated as a terrorist organization by the US government. While the authenticity of the videos could not be verified, the footage has sparked a heated debate on freedom of speech versus the need to prevent hate speech. Mamdani addressed the chants, stressing that support for terrorist organizations has no place in the city. 'As I said earlier today, chants in support of a terrorist organization have no place in our city,' he wrote. 'We will continue to ensure New Yorkers' safety and protect their constitutional right to protest.' New York Governor Kathy Hochul and Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez also weighed in on the incident, condemning the chants as 'disgusting' and 'antisemitic.' The latest incident comes amid ongoing tensions nationwide due to protests linked to the Israel-Hamas conflict. Federal law prohibits providing material support to designated terrorist organizations, including Hamas. Mamdani's response has drawn renewed attention to his previous remarks on the issue, in which he declined to condemn Hamas and instead focused on affordability concerns for New Yorkers. The incident highlights the complexities of balancing free speech with the need to prevent hate speech and promote public safety.