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A decision to invite New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani to Manhattan’s annual Columbus Day Parade has sparked backlash among some Italian-American leaders.
The Columbus Citizens Foundation, which is responsible for holding the parade, invited Mamdani in the hopes of fostering a better relationship between City Hall and the Italian-American community, the New York Post reported. Mamdani’s past criticism of Italian explorer Christopher Columbus, however, has sparked backlash among Italians who feel inviting the mayor is in poor taste.
“Are you kidding me? This is a WEAK and FECKLESS move by the organizers,” Italian American Civil Rights League president Mike Crispi wrote on X. “Zohran has showed contempt for our people and kissing a** won’t change his true feelings. Italian Americans need to wake up and get tough. It’s the only way to preserve our culture.”
Crispi’s criticism was a reference to a 2020 social media post where Mamdani posted a photo of himself brandishing his middle finger at a statue of Columbus with the caption “take it down.” Columbus holds a near-legendary status among Italian Americans, with the 15th-century explorer viewed by many as a historic link between their heritage and the United States.
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New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani speaks to reporters during a news conference in New York, Tuesday, Feb. 17, 2026. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
“We feel cooperating is always the better path . . . and we hope to create a good relationship with his office,” Columbus Citizens Foundation president Christopher Loiacono told the New York Post when asked about his decision to invite Mamdani. “We hope he will be more open to [working] with the Italian community.”
It is unclear if Mamdani has accepted the invitation to the parade. Columbus Day falls on Monday, Oct. 12, with New York City’s annual Columbus Day Parade set for Manhattan.
“This is a man who has made it clear that he doesn’t respect Christopher Columbus, and he doesn’t even think us enough of a group to put on his immigrant enclave map,” New York City Councilwoman Joann Ariola, a Republican from Queens, wrote in response. “Why would he want to be there? To get pictures and pretend he’s a paisan now? He should sit this one out.”
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New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani attends the Puerto Rican Day Parade on Fifth Avenue in Manhattan on June 14, 2026. (Jose Perez/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images)
Ariola’s comment was an apparent reference to a map of ethnic enclaves published by the city earlier this year that excluded Little Italy, which also sparked backlash from Italians. The map was initially created by the previous administration in 2023, and Mamdani said his administration added several neighborhoods before releasing the 2026 version.
Nonetheless, Mamdani has moved to update the map to include Little Italy.
A Columbus Day parade wouldn’t be the first public event Mamdani has attended this year to draw organized opposition to his presence. The mayor’s presence at the annual memorial service at Ground Zero on Sept. 11 spurred some family members of victims to circulate a petition demanding that he stay home.
“Just as Mamdani’s presence at the 9/11 Ceremony was inappropriate, we Italian/Americans don’t want him on Columbus Day either,” right-wing political operative Roger Stone wrote on X.
Some non-Italians are offended on behalf of the community.
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Little Italy in Manhattan was omitted from New York City’s immigrant enclave map, prompting backlash before Mayor Zohran Mamdani said the neighborhood would be added. (Dosfotos/Design Pics Editorial/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)
“I’m not Italian but I’ve been an honorary dignitary for 5 years running at the Columbus Day Parade thanks to my friend Angelo Vivolo,” Jewish radio host Sid Rosenberg wrote on X. “The organizers of the parade invited [Mamdani] to attend? What? This Radical Islam mother f*cker gave the finger to a Columbus statue and left Little Italy/Arthur Avenue OFF his bullsh*t immigrant map … When did my Italian brothers and sisters become so soft! … I will NOT attend this year if he is there.”
“The Italians need to step up and stop this!” he added.
Crispi has threatened to hold a competing Columbus Day parade next year if the Columbus Citizens Foundation does not revoke its invitation to the mayor.
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The Mayor’s office and the Columbus Citizens Foundation did not respond to a request for comment when reached by Digital on Monday.
