On January 1st, Mamdani’s inauguration day, he revoked all executive orders issued by former Mayor Adams after September 26, 2024, the day Adams was federally indicted on corruption charges. Several groups and individuals voiced their protest against this move. Mamdani vaguely responded to people’s concerns on Friday, January 2nd.
According to the Mayor’s office, Mamdani ordered that all executive orders issued before September 26, 2024, unless revoked, amended, or replaced by subsequent executive orders, shall remain in effect. All executive orders issued on or after September 26, 2024, and effective until December 31, 2025, are to be revoked. This order takes immediate effect.
The revoked orders included policies supporting Israel and combating anti-Semitism. The first executive order sparked strong protests from various groups, including Jewish rights organizations, the Republican Party, and even the Department of Justice.
The Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs posted on platform X, stating that Mamdani has “revealed his true colors”.
“Mamdani showed his true colors on his first day as Mayor of New York: he revoked the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) definition of anti-Semitism and lifted restrictions on boycotting Israel,” the post said. “This is not leadership; this is adding fuel to the fire, inciting anti-Semitism.”
“We will remain vigilant against any acts that violate religious freedom in New York City,” posted Harmeet Dhillon, Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights in the United States, referring to the Mayor’s office official account (@CivilRight) deleting past posts related to combating anti-Semitism. “We will investigate, file lawsuits, and prosecute as needed.”
Several New York and New Jersey Jewish organizations issued a joint statement, questioning the inconsistency between Mamdani’s revocation of anti-Semitism policies and his commitment to uniting New York’s diverse citizenry.
“Mayor Mamdani promised to build an inclusive New York and combat all forms of hatred, including anti-Semitism. However, when the new government overturned many of Mayor Adams’ executive orders, it rescinded two important measures protecting against anti-Semitism: New York City adopting the IHRA definition and key protections against the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement against Israel.”
The statement expressed, “We welcome Mayor Mamdani signing executive orders to better protect religious sites and his continued establishment of the Mayor’s Office to Combat Anti-Semitism, but our community expects clear and consistent leadership, demonstrating steadfast determination in addressing anti-Semitism… Sanctioning Israel does not make New York Jews feel inclusive and safe; instead, it weakens any discourse aimed at achieving this goal. Uniting New York citizens and building broad alliances are essential for the mayor to promote a more inclusive New York.”
The New York Republican Party also voiced opposition. Republican gubernatorial candidate and Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman stated, “Mamdani has unequivocally shown New Yorkers who he truly is,” emphasizing that Mamdani, upon taking office, prioritized canceling executive orders protecting Jewish people over public safety, “This is unforgivable”; Republican Assemblyman Mike Lawler wrote on platform X, “Zoran (Mamdani) has officially become the spokesperson for the Democratic Party”; Councilwoman Inna Vernikov called on Governor Kathy Hochul to step in and stop Mamdani: “The governor can solve this problem with just one executive order! Will she stand up against Mamdani?”
In response to the public’s queries, Mamdani stated that the executive orders he signed were intended to allow the new government to start from scratch. “We will fulfill our commitment to protecting New York’s Jewish community in a way that truly achieves this goal,” he vaguely stated.