New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani faces mounting criticism for refusing to address a brutal antisemitic attack on a Jewish nurse riding the subway, even as hate crimes against Jews surged 70% in May. Religious leaders and elected officials are demanding the mayor speak out against the violence that left a 23-year-old Orthodox woman traumatized after an attacker ripped out her hair while screaming medieval blood libels.

The Subway Attack Details

The assault occurred Sunday on a C train when 45-year-old Diana Smith confronted the young Orthodox Jewish nurse, shouting slurs including claims that Jewish people eat children. The attacker physically assaulted the victim, yanking out chunks of her hair and throwing her to the ground. Smith, who law enforcement sources say has a history of mental illness, now faces hate crime charges including assault.

The victim described the terrifying ordeal to reporters, saying she felt like a ragdoll unable to defend herself. Video of the attack circulated widely on social media, capturing Smith’s antisemitic rants as she confronted the nurse. The young woman, who requested anonymity, told The New York Post there should have been people protecting her during the assault.

Rising Hate Crime Statistics

The attack coincided with disturbing NYPD data showing hate crimes overall jumped 74.4% in May compared to the same month in 2025. Crimes specifically targeting Jewish New Yorkers spiked 70.8%, rising from 24 incidents to 41. Anti-Muslim hate crimes also increased 66.7%, climbing from three to five reported cases. Through May, the city has recorded 152 hate crimes against Jewish residents this year alone.

When a reporter asked Mamdani about the hate crime spike following a Thursday press conference on World Cup preparations, the mayor ignored the question entirely. His silence drew sharp rebukes from Jewish advocacy organizations and city council members who said New Yorkers deserve stronger leadership during this crisis.

Leaders Demand Action

Moshe Spern, head of United Jewish Teachers and a public school educator, condemned the mayor’s four-day silence following the attack. He warned that when city leaders refuse to denounce raw antisemitic violence, it signals to perpetrators that such cruelty is acceptable in New York. Mark Treyger, CEO of the Jewish Community Relations Council of New York, called the statistics sobering and said the crisis requires more than police work.

Queens Councilwoman Joann Ariola, a Republican, told reporters many New Yorkers feel increasingly unsafe. She emphasized that unless strong messages are sent to control the problem, hate crimes will continue worsening. Treyger stressed that leaders must protect human rights at home, including the dignity and safety of Jewish residents, while noting that words, actions and equivocations all matter when addressing such violence.