NYC Jewish students ‘horrified’ after new mayor repeals anti-Semitism executive order

NEW YORK — New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani revoked an executive order on his first day in office that tied the city’s definition of antisemitism to international standards, sparking immediate backlash from Jewish college students.

The order, originally signed by former Mayor Eric Adams, adopted the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) definition of antisemitism. Mamdani rescinded the measure on Jan. 1.

Jewish students at New York University (NYU) and Columbia University described the decision as "horrific." Many expressed concern that the move would trigger a surge in campus protests and hostility.

Mera Skoblo, a student at NYU, characterized the removal of these protections as a "direct attack."

At Columbia University, student Galia Labowitz said she fears the reversal will embolden "pro-Palestinian rhetoric" that is already prevalent on campus. Labowitz said the move makes her feel uncomfortable expressing her Jewish identity and Zionism, noting that some professors have encouraged students to participate in protests.

Both NYU and Columbia served as flashpoints for intense demonstrations throughout 2024 and 2025. The unrest followed the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel.

Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s Day One executive action represents more than a mere policy shift; it is a calculated symbolic break from the Eric Adams administration on one of New York City’s most polarizing issues. At the center of the controversy lies the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) definition of antisemitism. Proponents of the definition argue it serves as an essential framework for identifying modern antisemitism, particularly when criticism of the State of Israel devolves into hate speech against Jewish people.

Conversely, critics contend the IHRA definition is overbroad and susceptible to being weaponized to stifle legitimate dissent against Israeli government policy and suppress pro-Palestinian advocacy. By rescinding the previous administration's mandate, Mamdani has firmly aligned himself with one side of a deepening ideological rift within the progressive movement and the academic community.

This policy pivot signals a more permissive environment for forms of protest and rhetoric that the Adams administration sought to categorize as antisemitic. For New York’s universities—which have remained flashpoints of unrest since late 2023—this move may be interpreted by activist groups as a green light, potentially setting the stage for an even more volatile and contentious academic year ahead.

While centered on the Jewish community and academic politics in New York, this debate reflects an increasingly polarized university climate across the United States. Vietnamese-American students, like many of their peers, are navigating a complex social and political landscape on campus, where global issues frequently become the flashpoints for local protests and intense controversy.