Mamdani sparks firestorm when internet sees details of his first veto as mayor

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani is drawing backlash after using his first veto to derail a bipartisan bill aimed at combating anti-Semitism by expanding safety guarantees during protests at educational sites.

“This could impact workers protesting ICE or students demanding their school divest from fossil fuels or demonstrating for Palestinian rights,” Mamdani said in a statement Friday.

“This is a bill that has alarmed much of the labor movement, reproductive rights groups and immigration advocates, among others, throughout this city.”

Former New York Democratic Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who ran as an independent against Mamdani in last year’s mayoral race, criticized Mamdani’s decision on

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Zohran Mamdani announces his new team members at the Greenpoint Branch of the Brooklyn Public Library in Brooklyn on December 17, 2025. (Shawn Inglima/New York Daily News/Tribune News Service via Getty Images)

“Instead of governing for all New Yorkers, Mamdani has repealed the very definition of anti-Semitism from the city’s books, changed the way anti-Semitic crimes are counted, and has now vetoed these common-sense security measures when they are needed most,” Cuomo continued.

“I am proud to stand with my Jewish brothers and sisters, just as the Cuomos always have and always will.”

The invoice, Int. 175-B, requires New York law enforcement to develop a plan to contain the risks of physical obstruction, physical harm, intimidation and interference in educational institutions while permitting freedom of assembly and First Amendment events. The plan would then apply to “any building, structure or place where educational programs are conducted.”

New York City Council Speaker Julie Menin touted the bill as key to staving off threats of anti-Semitism.

“This legislation is part of the Council-led five-point action plan to combat anti-Semitism,” Menin said in March.

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New York City Council Speaker Julie Menin speaks during an announcement in the Brooklyn borough of New York on January 12, 2026. (John Lamparski/Bloomberg)

“According to the NYPD, anti-Semitic incidents accounted for 57% of reported hate crimes in 2025, even though only about 10% of New York City residents are Jewish. Jewish New Yorkers have been the target of more hate crimes than all other groups combined.

The bill passed the New York City Council by a 30-19 vote late last month.

Online commentators criticized the veto, citing the need for stronger protections.

“We are deeply disappointed by Mayor Mamdani’s veto of legislation intended to protect students from bullying and disruption outside of schools,” the Simon Wiesenthal Center, a pro-Jewish group, said in a message to X.

“The right to protest and the right to education can and must coexist. We urge the City Council to override this veto and reaffirm a fundamental principle: protecting students is not a policy, it is a civic responsibility.”

“Mayor Zohran Mamdani (D-HAMAS) vetoed a bill creating buffer zones around schools because it ‘could impact workers protesting ICE, or students demanding their school divest from fossil fuels, or protesting for Palestinian rights,’” Ari Hoffman, a political commentator, wrote in his own post.

“All the bill would have done was require clear security plans around schools and law enforcement.”

Mamdani approved a similar bill that applied to religious sites. He explained that he was concerned about the broad range of what the second bill meant by “educational institutions.”

“At issue is the extent to which this bill defines an educational institution and the constitutional concerns it raises regarding New Yorkers’ fundamental right to protest. By the time the bill is written, everywhere from universities to museums to teaching hospitals could face restrictions,” Mamdani said in a statement.

NYC RABBI Warns that ZOHRAN MAMDANI “POSES A DANGER” TO THE SECURITY OF THE JEWISH COMMUNITY

The sun sets over the Midtown Manhattan skyline and the Empire State Building in New York on November 15, 2024. (Gary Hershorn/Getty Images)

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The City Council could override the mayor’s veto with a two-thirds vote, according to the New York City Charter. This would require the vote of 33 of the chamber’s 50 members.

Assuming the bill retains the support of lawmakers who initially proposed it out of council, it would need just three more votes to ensure it goes through despite Mamdani’s objection.