From the smile at the 9/11 ceremonies to a clash with the Italian community: the biggest scandals of Adams
New York City Mayor Eric Adams continues to stir up controversies: over the weekend he did not attend the Italian-American community's Columbus Day parades, which was described as a 'slap in the face'. Days earlier, he faced jeers from pro-Palestinian protesters at a memorial rally for October 7. The scandals also include a smile at the 9/11 ceremony, a confrontation with an Israeli activist in a Borough Park store, and accusations that his rhetoric fuels antisemitism.
New York City Mayor Eric Adams, since taking office in January, has managed to stir up controversies with various groups in the city. Over the past weekend, he did not attend two Columbus Day parades in Brooklyn and Queens, sparking anger among the Italian-American community. Organizers reported that his office notified them of his absence from the Brooklyn parade, and in Queens, they did not respond to the invitation at all. Residents called it a 'slap in the face to the community'. Days earlier, at a memorial rally for the October 7 massacre, Adams faced jeers from anti-Israeli protesters who called him a 'traitor' and 'genocidal'. Last month, he was recorded smiling and chuckling alongside Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez during the 25th memorial ceremony for the 9/11 attacks, while bereaved families wept. Senator Ted Cruz criticized him for this. Additionally, he clashed with Israeli-American activist Stephanie Ben Shimon in a Borough Park store, who accused him of accelerating antisemitism. In the summer, hundreds from the Jewish community protested against his policies, claiming his rhetoric against Israel encourages violence.