NEW YORK (VINnews)-Prominent Jewish activist Dov Hikind is urging Gov. Kathy Hochul to deploy the National Guard to protect participants in next Sunday’s Israel Day Parade, citing a sharp rise in antisemitic incidents in New York City.

Hikind, founder of Americans Against Antisemitism and a former state assemblyman from Brooklyn, made the call in an interview with The New York Post. While expressing strong support for the NYPD, he said additional military assistance is needed to ensure safety along the Fifth Avenue route and for attendees traveling to the event wearing Jewish or Israeli symbols.

“We need to make sure bad things don’t happen,” Hikind said. “We want to make sure there is safety for the Jewish community. I’m calling on Governor Hochul to bring in the National Guard to help the New York City Police Department.”

Several elected officials have joined Hikind’s request, including Assembly members Kalman Yeger, D-Brooklyn, Michael Novakhov, R-Brooklyn, Lester Chang, R-Brooklyn, David Weprin, D-Queens, Ari Brown, R-Nassau County, and Councilman Jim Gennaro, D-Queens.

Hochul has previously authorized National Guard deployments to patrol transit hubs in response to crime concerns.

However, organizers of the 61st annual Israel Day Parade said they are not requesting military involvement and expressed full confidence in the NYPD.

Mark Treyger, CEO of the Jewish Community Relations Council of New York, said the NYPD under Commissioner Jessica Tisch has successfully secured past parades and major events.

“I have full faith and confidence in the greatest police department in the world, the NYPD, under the exceptional leadership of Commissioner Jessica Tisch,” Treyger said. “Commissioner Tisch, the NYPD, and all of our law enforcement partners have left no stone unturned in preparing for next Sunday’s parade.”

Treyger noted that the Community Security Initiative, a partnership between JCRC-NY and UJA-Federation of New York, is coordinating closely with law enforcement on security measures for the event.