It seems Zohran Mamdani hasn\u2019t quite received the message that he\u2019s now the mayor of America\u2019s biggest city, not this bit player activist in the New York Assembly.<\/p>\n
And the NYPD guys would love it if he figured that out, make their job that much easier.<\/p>\n
Mamdani is calling on New Yorkers to protest Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during his visit to New York City by taking to the streets, a move that has drawn criticism from some members of the New York Police Department.<\/p>\n
The call for the demonstration comes after a tough run for the NYPD, which has recently provided security for several high-profile events including the FIFA World Cup, Independence Day celebrations and the America 250 festivities that drew millions of visitors.<\/p>\n
Opponents say the call for more mass protests will put more pressure on police resources.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe mayor\u2019s activist posturing puts police officers on the street in a terrible position,\u201d NYPD Police Benevolent Association President Patrick Hendry said, per the New York Post.<\/p>\n
\u201cProtests during the UN General Assembly are nothing new, but when the mayor of the city is actively calling for demonstrations, violent agitators will assume they have permission to cause as much havoc as possible,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n
\u201cThose same agitators know that the NYPD\u2019s protest response is already hamstrung by the dangerous lawsuit settlement the city signed over the PBA\u2019s opposition,\u201d said Hendry.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe mayor\u2019s heated rhetoric could be enough to push demonstrations over the edge into chaos.\u201d<\/p>\n
Since before his mayoral campaign, Mamdani has been a vocal critic of Netanyahu, with some critics saying his criticisms of Israel in general smack of anti-Semitism.<\/p>\n
During the campaign, he said he would seek to have Netanyahu arrested if he visited New York City, citing the 2024 warrant issued by the International Criminal Court over alleged war crimes in Gaza.<\/p>\n
This week, however, Mamdani acknowledged that he does not have the legal authority to carry out such an arrest.<\/p>\n
He instead encouraged New Yorkers to protest Netanyahu\u2019s visit, a move critics say will require additional security and crowd-management efforts from the NYPD, The Post continued.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is a city where, if anyone feels a level of frustration or opposition, protest is something that we will always respect,\u201d Mamdani told reporters at City Hall this week.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat New Yorkers can express themselves, whether they are in support or in opposition, no matter on whatever topic,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd I\u2019ve always said that when we respect our Constitution, we also respect our First Amendment,\u201d he claimed.<\/p>\n
The NYPD recently managed an exceptionally busy summer that brought an unprecedented influx of visitors to the city.<\/p>\n
Officers worked extended 12-hour shifts to provide security for the additional crowds and major public events, successfully carrying out those responsibilities.<\/p>\n
Critics now argue that the mayor\u2019s call for large-scale protests will place further demands on an already heavily tasked police force.<\/p>\n