People on the Upper West Side voiced anger during a rally organized after the stabbings of a Jewish man and an Asian man, as the suspect faces hate crime charges. Several speakers at the rally said others bear responsibility as well, pointing to Mayor Zohran Mamdani (D-New York City). Some calle d for Mamdani to be removed from office and accused him of antisemitism. Among those speakers was Republican gubernatorial nominee and Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman. “There has been a darkness that has permeated over this city since January 1,” Blakeman told the crowd on Amsterdam Ave., near the scene of one of Thursday afternoon’s stabbings. “Darkness by the leadership, or the lack of leadership, of Mayor Mamdani, with the acquiescence of Gov. Hochul and so many others that will not condemn the anti-Jew rhetoric coming out of this mayor.” “And now we’ve seen, first it was the Jews, now it’s the Asian Americans,” he added. Republican nominee for New York Governor Bruce Blakeman (center) appears at a rally against antisemitism Sunday, days after a double stabbing in which one of the victims was Jewish. A suspect is charged with hate crimes. (Image: NBC New York) Both Mamdani and Hochul condemned the stabbings within hours of the attacks. NBC New York has reached out to Gov. Hochul for a response to Blakeman’s comments. Mamdani was asked by reporters Sunday whether his recent video calling Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu a “war criminal” might have fanned the flames ahead of Thursday’s violence. “I think when it comes to the horrific stabbings on the Upper West Side, my thoughts first and foremost are with both the Asian New Yorker and the Jewish New Yorker who were stabbed,” Mamdani said. “I’m thankful that they are in a stable condition and I’m wishing them a full and speedy recovery.” The mayor praised by the NYPD for its “quick and swift” response. “And now I’ve seen the charges that have been levied against him of attempted murder and a hate crime, and I’m hopeful that he will be prosecuted for full extent of the law.” Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu fired back at Mamdani ahead of his visit to the U.S. this week. Netanyahu is expected to meet with President Trump. Netanyahu accused Mamdani of “fomenting hate” during an appearance on Fox News Channel’s “Sunday Morning Futures with Maria Bartiromo.” “He’s supposed to be the mayor of all New Yorkers, Jews, Christians, Muslims, everyone, but he’s trying to turn one group against the other, and he’s forcing hate and fear,” said Netanyahu. “I speak to Jewish Americans in New York and they’re afraid right now, and I don’t think it’s accidental that after he made this hate speech against Israel and against me, the next day, a Jew is stabbed coming out of a synagogue.” In Tuesday’s video, Mamdani said his office had reviewed “every avenue” to have Netanyahu arrested for war crimes in Gaza when Netanyahu returns to New York in September for the U.N. General Assembly. Mamdani later conceded that his office does not have the authority to have Netanyahu arrested. This story was originally reported for broadcast by NBC New York. AI tools helped convert the story to a digital article, and an NBC New York journalist edited the article for publication. ...read more read less