New York, NY (May 24, 2026)

Calls for heightened security are growing ahead of this year’s Israel Day on Fifth parade, as Jewish community leaders and elected officials weigh how best to protect participants and spectators during one of the city’s largest annual pro-Israel events.

Dov Hikind, founder of Americans Against Antisemitism and a former New York state assemblyman from Brooklyn, is urging Governor Kathy Hochul to deploy the National Guard in support of the NYPD for the May 31 parade. Hikind said the request is not a criticism of the police department, but an effort to add another layer of protection amid ongoing concerns over antisemitism and anti-Israel demonstrations across the city.

GOVERNOR HOCHUL:
CALL IN THE NATIONAL GUARD FOR THE ISRAELI DAY PARADE.

Give New Yorkers an extra layer of protection.

I am grateful to the following elected officials who have joined in this request to @GovKathyHochul:

Assembly members:
Kalman Yeger, D-Brooklyn.
Michael… pic.twitter.com/hqJYM9YOKf

— Dov Hikind (@HikindDov) May 24, 2026

The parade is scheduled to run along Fifth Avenue in Manhattan from 62nd Street to 74th Street. Hikind has warned that security planning should extend beyond the main parade route, noting that attendees carrying Israeli flags or wearing visibly pro-Israel items could face harassment or threats in nearby areas before and after the event.

Several elected officials have joined Hikind’s request, including Assembly members Kalman Yeger, Michael Novakhov, Lester Chang, David Weprin and Ari Brown, as well as Councilman Jim Gennaro.

Organizers of Israel Day on Fifth have taken a different position. The Jewish Community Relations Council of New York, which hosts the event, has said it is working closely with law enforcement and is not seeking a National Guard deployment. JCRC leadership has expressed confidence in the NYPD and said extensive security planning is already underway with city and communal security partners.

Concerns surrounding the parade come after recent anti-Israel protests outside Jewish institutions in Brooklyn and Manhattan, including demonstrations near Park East Synagogue and Young Israel Senior Services in Midwood. The event has also drawn political attention after Mayor Zohran Mamdani indicated he does not plan to attend.

With thousands expected to gather next Sunday, community leaders say the focus remains on ensuring that the parade can proceed safely while allowing participants to publicly express support for Israel.