Mayor Zohran Mamdani will not attend the Christopher Columbus Day parade on Fifth Avenue, according to reports from The Post. This decision aligns with Mamdani's previous criticisms of Christopher Columbus, whom he has described as a colonist responsible for the abuse and displacement of Native Americans. In a June 2020 social media post, Mamdani expressed his disapproval of a Columbus statue in Astoria, Queens, stating, 'Take it down.'
Italian-American civic leaders have criticized Mamdani's absence from the parade, viewing it as a sign of disrespect towards the contributions of the Italian-American community in New York City and the United States. Angelo Vivolo, chairman of the Columbus Heritage Coalition, which represents over 50 Italian-American organizations, stated, 'He’s disrespectful to the Italian-American community and not coming to the Columbus Day parade confirms it.' Vivolo emphasized that the parade celebrates the rich culture and heritage of Italian-Americans.
Additionally, Mamdani faced backlash for releasing an ethnic enclave map that did not include Little Italy and Arthur Avenue in the Bronx. However, he did release a video statement honoring Italian Heritage Month, in which he acknowledged the contributions of Italian immigrants to the city and paid tribute to East Harlem Representative Vito Marcantonio, who advocated for Social Security, unemployment benefits, and civil rights. Mamdani has also boycotted other events, including the Israel Day parade in May, citing his criticisms of Israel's policies.