This Sunday, June 2nd, New York City’s Manhattan will host the annual “Israel Day” parade, marking the first celebration of Israeli culture since the terrorist attacks on Israeli civilians by Hamas on October 7th last year.
In light of the prevailing anti-Semitic sentiments in New York City, the Mayor and the police department have announced security measures for the parade, including the participation of the anti-terrorism task force. Mayor Adams stated, “Acts of disruption will not be tolerated.”
During a press conference on Friday, Mayor Adams and NYPD Commissioner Caban both indicated that despite numerous online threats directed at the parade, there are no credible threats overall.
The security level for the parade is expected to be on par with that of the Times Square New Year’s Eve celebration and the Independence Day on July 4th, with a large number of police officers present, including the use of resources such as bicycles, drones, K-9 units, traffic police, and the anti-terrorism task force.
Attendees of the parade will undergo security checks at the entrances and will only be able to watch from one side of the parade route, as the other side will be occupied by police officers.
Entrances for spectators include five intersections on Madison Avenue: 61st, 63rd, 66th, 70th, and 73rd Streets.
“We aim to demonstrate with united police force that we will not allow any illegal activities or disruptions to interfere with our city’s cultural celebrations,” said Mayor Adams. “We are monitoring in a traditional way, and if there are any destructive behaviors, officers will respond promptly.”
According to the Mayor’s office, there have been 1,300 demonstrations related to the Middle East conflicts since October 7th last year.
This year’s parade also raises concerns about potential physical confrontations between protesters and spectators, both during the parade and on the streets afterwards.
Commissioner Caban urged the public to remain vigilant, stating, “The eyes and ears of New York (meaning the citizens) play a crucial role in protecting our city. So, if you see something suspicious, please notify the police.”
The parade on Sunday will commence at 11:30 a.m., proceeding north along Fifth Avenue from 57th Street to 74th Street, spanning a total of 18 blocks. The parade is expected to attract a large number of people as well as U.S. and Jewish dignitaries.