Mayor Mamdani skips Fifth Avenue Columbus Day parade; Italian-American critics object

Right · 1Mayor Zohran Mamdani did not attend New York's Columbus Day parade on Fifth Avenue on Monday 12 October 2026, a plan the New York Post reported the day before. 1 2 Right · 2Angelo Vivolo, who leads the Columbus Heritage Coalition (described by the Post as representing more than 50 Italian-American organisations), said the absence confirmed disrespect toward the community, adding: "We know he hates Columbus. But the parade celebrates the rich culture and heritage of Italian-Americans." 1 3 Right · 1Vivolo told JNS that Mamdani is "an antisemite and anti-Italian" and should have set aside personal views to attend; he also said he welcomes solidarity between Italian Americans and Jews. The Post calls Vivolo chairman of the coalition, while JNS calls him president and a City University of New York trustee. 3

Right · 1Bruce Blakeman, a gubernatorial candidate, told the Post at the parade that the absence was "disgraceful" and "divisive" and an "affront to Italian Americans". Curtis Sliwa, Mamdani's former mayoral opponent, called it "disgrazia". 2 Right · 1Parade-goers quoted by the Post were divided: some called the absence "insulting" and "disrespectful", while others said they were glad Mamdani stayed away. 2 Right · 1Gov. Kathy Hochul, state Attorney General Letitia James, City Council Speaker Julie Menin and other elected officials did attend, according to JNS. 3

Right · 2Mamdani released a video of nearly three minutes marking Italian Heritage Month, saying Italian-American history is New York history, honouring Italian immigrants and East Harlem Rep. Vito Marcantonio, and, per JNS, planning an Italian-American heritage reception at Gracie Mansion. 1 3 Right · 2Both outlets place the absence against Mamdani's long-standing criticism of Columbus, whom the Post says the mayor has called a colonist who abused Native Americans, and a June 2020 post giving the finger to an Astoria, Queens statue with the words "Take it down". 1 3 Right · 2Critics also cite a July city administration map of immigrant enclaves that listed places such as Little Yemen, Little Pakistan and Koreatown but omitted Little Italy; JNS adds that it left out Irish and Jewish neighbourhoods and included "Little Palestine". 2 3

Right · 2The Post and JNS both link the absence to Mamdani's skipping of the Israel Day Parade in May, a break with City Hall precedent; the Post adds that Mamdani is a critic of Israel who has accused it of genocide. Neither article quotes Mamdani or City Hall on the reason for missing the Columbus parade. 1 3