Jewish students in New York City \u201care scared\u201d about what Mayor-elect\u00a0Zohran Mamdani\u2019s victory means for their lives on campus, saying that the democratic socialist\u2019s win is \u201ca huge blow to the New York City Jewish community.\u201d<\/p>\n
Students from\u00a0Columbia University, Barnard University and Baruch College sat down with Fox News Digital, revealing some of the major concerns held by Jewish students ahead of Mamdani\u2019s swearing in on New Year\u2019s Day.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think it\u2019s a huge blow to the New York City Jewish community,\u201d Aidan Herlinger of Baruch College told Fox News Digital. \u201cWe\u2019re looking at someone who has shouted out the Holy Land Five in a rap song, which he still hasn\u2019t taken off his Twitter, he\u2019s supported globalize the Intifada, refused to condemn it, and I think that\u2019s such a dangerous precedent<\/a>.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe have never seen a\u00a0socialist country<\/a>\u00a0that has actually worked\u2026 And I think this may be a major downfall if Mr. Mamdani is actually able to act on his policies that he\u2019s stated that he wants to enact,\u201d Eliana Birman of\u00a0Barnard College\u00a0explained.<\/p>\n College students revealed some of the major concerns held by Jewish students ahead of Mamdani\u2019s swearing in on New Year\u2019s Day. James Keivom<\/p>\n Universities in New York City<\/a> were host to some of the most heated protests in the country following the Oct. 7, 2023 Hamas attack on Israel.<\/p>\n In April 2024, Columbia University saw an encampment take over the East Butler lawn where hundreds of students and non-students often chanted \u201cfrom the river to the sea,\u201d calling for an end to the war in the\u00a0Middle East\u00a0and condemning Israel and its citizens.<\/p>\n In May 2025, protesters took over the\u00a0Butler library on campus, unofficially renaming the space \u201cBasel Al-Araj Popular University.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI think it\u2019s a huge blow to the New York City Jewish community,\u201d Aidan Herlinger of Baruch College said. Fox News<\/p>\n Universities in New York City were host to some of the most heated protests in the country following the Oct. 7, 2023 Hamas attack on Israel.<\/p>\n Both demonstrations led to the arrests of hundreds of protesters.<\/p>\n NYU faced similar protests on its NYC campus, including a Dec. 12, 2024, demonstration outside the university\u2019s library where protesters called for an \u201cintifada revolution\u201d saying that \u201cTel Aviv is stolen land.\u201d<\/p>\n In April 2024, Columbia University saw an encampment take over the East Butler lawn. Getty Images<\/p>\n \u201cSome of us hide our identities,\u201d Mera Skobolo of NYU told Fox News Digital. \u201cWe\u2019ve been screamed at. We\u2019ve been blocked out of our own library during finals week. We\u2019ve had professors yell at students, not support students.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe want to feel protected by our elected officials,\u201d Skobolo continued. \u201cA lot of us are scared. The past two years on college campuses across New York City have been difficult for Jewish students.\u201d<\/p>\n NYU faced similar protests on its NYC campus, including a Dec. 12, 2024, demonstration outside the university\u2019s library. Instagram\/@zohrankmamdani<\/p>\n After his victory, Mamdani promised, \u201cWe will build a City Hall that stands steadfast alongside Jewish New Yorkers and does not waver in the fight against the scourge of antisemitism.\u201d<\/p>\n Columbia University student TJ Katz outlined that\u00a0Mamdani\u2019s role as mayor\u00a0would play a big role in students\u2019 attitudes toward the Jewish community<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cYou will undoubtedly see students feel inspired by what [Mamdani] says and what he wishes,\u201d TJ Katz of Columbia University explained. \u201cI think more than anything else, the mayor of New York City serves as a role model and a figurehead. He has the ability to put X, Y or Z policies in place, but I unequivocally believe the most impact that Mamdani will have is how he influences others to act.\u201d<\/p>\n Columbia University student TJ Katz outlined that\u00a0Mamdani\u2019s role as mayor\u00a0would play a big role in students\u2019 attitudes toward the Jewish community. Fox News<\/p>\n