Texas – Texas Republican Sen. Ted Cruz praised New York Gov. Kathy Hochul after she condemned protesters who disrupted an October 7 vigil commemorating victims of the Hamas-led attack on Israel, while continuing his criticism of New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani over his statement marking the anniversary.
“Good for her, calling out Mamdani’s despicable conduct on October 7. The right thing to do,” Cruz wrote on X on October 8, responding to Hochul’s criticism of the demonstration in Manhattan.
Hochul had said that disrupting a vigil for the victims while waving flags of terrorist organizations was “absolutely despicable,” adding that Jewish New Yorkers deserved to mourn in peace without hatred or intimidation.
“There is no excuse for this. None,” the governor wrote.
Cruz’s response followed a separate post a day earlier in which he condemned Mamdani’s October 7 anniversary statement, describing it as “utterly disgraceful.” Cruz accused the mayor of effectively declaring a day of mourning for Hamas members who had participated in the October 7, 2023, attack.
The dispute followed a series of events in New York marking three years since Hamas attacked Israel, killing about 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages, according to Israeli figures widely cited in news reports. The anniversary brought together mourners and demonstrators with sharply different views about the attack, Israel’s military campaign in Gaza and the future of the conflict.
The vigil took place at Union Square in Manhattan on Wednesday evening, October 7, and was organized by Israelis for Peace, a group that advocates for an end to Israel’s occupation of Palestinian territories. Mamdani attended the gathering alongside other New York officials as demonstrators gathered nearby.
CBS New York reported that pro-Palestinian protesters shouted over speakers as the vigil began, delaying the remembrance event. Police erected barriers to separate the groups as the crowd grew tense. Some demonstrators directed their criticism at Mamdani, while other attendees expressed support for his decision to attend.
Mamdani did not speak during the vigil. According to the Washington Post, protesters booed him and shouted, “Zohran, your hands are red!” while Jewish politician Brad Lander spoke about the suffering of families affected by the violence. Lander later wrote that those attending the vigil had refused to compromise on anyone’s humanity despite the shouting.
Hochul’s October 8 statement focused on the disruption and the flags displayed by some demonstrators. Her post did not endorse every part of Mamdani’s anniversary statement but condemned the conduct at the vigil and emphasized Jewish New Yorkers’ right to mourn without intimidation.
Mamdani’s October 7 statement began by acknowledging the deaths of more than 1,100 Israelis and the abduction of 251 people by Hamas. He described the attacks as “horrific war crimes” and said New Yorkers continued to carry the loss of those killed and taken hostage.
The mayor then broadened his statement to address the war in Gaza, accusing the Israeli government of an ongoing genocide and criticizing U.S. support for Israel. His remarks drew criticism from some Jewish leaders and elected officials, who argued that the focus on Israel’s military actions overshadowed the anniversary of Hamas’ attack. Mamdani has defended his position, saying it is important to mourn all those killed in the conflict.
The controversy has placed Cruz, Hochul and Mamdani on different sides of a wider debate over how the October 7 anniversary should be commemorated and how political leaders should address the Israel-Gaza conflict. Cruz’s posts expressed support for Hochul’s condemnation of the protest while separately attacking Mamdani’s remarks about the anniversary.
The events also highlighted divisions among demonstrators themselves. While some protesters criticized Mamdani for his position on Israel, others objected to the vigil’s framing and called for greater attention to Palestinian deaths in Gaza. The gathering became a confrontation between competing demands for remembrance, political expression and recognition of civilian suffering.
Mamdani later defended his attendance at the vigil, telling reporters that he was proud to have been there and that facing criticism was part of his role as mayor. The dispute continued to draw national attention as officials and community leaders debated the line between protest and disrupting a memorial event.
