New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s new plan to combat anti-Semitism includes increased funding for the Arab American Association of New York — an advocacy group whose employees have made dehumanizing remarks about Jews.
The group is also a financial backer of the Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR), whose senior leadership has made statements supporting violence against Jewish civilians.
Key facts: Mamdani’s 33-page plan to combat anti-Semitism, unveiled in late September, says it will “support Jewish New Yorkers” by doubling funding for the city’s existing Partners Against the Hate (PATH) program at a cost of $6.4 million.
Mayor Bill de Blasio launched PATH in 2021 as a partnership between six cultural advocacy groups, including the Jewish Community Relations Council.
It also includes the Arab American Association of New York, which employed Linda Sarsour — Mamdani’s close friend and mentor — as its CEO for 11 years. Sarsour previously stirred up controversy by declaring that Jews should not be “humanized” and referring to a Jewish city councilman as a “Zionist troll.”
It’s unclear how much of the $6.4 million dedicated to PATH will go to the Arab American Association of New York. The group already received $3.3 million from the city from 2017 to 2024, Open the Books previously reported.
The Arab American Association uses some of its PATH funding to fund CAIR’s New York City chapter. Subgrants totaled $223,500 from 2021 to 2025, according to Influence Watch.
CAIR-NY Vice President Ibrahim R. Mossallam previously said that the Oct. 7 terror attack against Israel was planned by “brave people.” CAIR Executive Director Nihad Awad said he was “happy to see” the terror attack.
A CAIR-backed PAC was the largest institutional donor to Mamdani’s mayoral campaign, according to Sarsour.
Summary: New York City taxpayers will need to demand transparency and accountability from their leaders to ensure Mamdani’s plan to fight anti-Semitism achieves its stated goal.
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