Mayor Zohran Mamdani will not march in Manhattan’s Columbus Day Parade on Monday, according to local reports, drawing criticism from some members of New York’s Italian-American community.
City Hall confirmed that the mayor would not participate in the Fifth Avenue procession, without providing an official explanation for the decision, according to La Voce di New York. His absence comes as the annual event returns for its 82nd edition to celebrate Italian-American heritage.
The decision follows an invitation from the Columbus Citizens Foundation, which organizes the parade. Foundation president Christopher Loiacono had described the invitation as an opportunity to improve relations with City Hall despite earlier disagreements involving the mayor and some community members.
Some critics have interpreted Mamdani’s decision as a failure to recognize a significant community tradition. Those objections represent the views of particular community members and organizations, rather than a single position shared by all Italian Americans.
Mamdani has separately recognized Italian immigrants and their contributions to New York, including the legacy of former congressman Vito Marcantonio, according to La Voce di New York. That recognition forms part of the backdrop to the debate over his decision to miss the procession.
The parade will proceed along Fifth Avenue despite the mayor’s absence, with ABC7 New York scheduled to broadcast and stream the celebration beginning at noon.
