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NYC’s massive Salute to Israel Parade to go on with heavy police protection despite antisemitic protests
Protests be damned.
Defiant organizers of the city’s annual Salute to Israel Parade announced Tuesday that the march will go on this year despite recent violent local antisemitic demonstrations.
The traditional celebration of the Jewish state is scheduled to take over Fifth Avenue on June 2 and is expected to bring thousands of supporters to Manhattan — along with hundreds of cops during a months-long spike in antisemitism throughout the five boroughs as the Mideast war rages.
“There is no way [they] would not have the parade,” a Manhattan cop told The Post on Tuesday. “The city and the organizers would not give in to the protesters.
“There will be a double [police] detail — that is, the usual cops that line the parade route and another detail to deal with the protesters.”
Mark Treyger, executive director of the Jewish Community Relations Council, which sponsors the event, said, “We are dotting every I and every T in terms of safety.”
“This is a safe event for participants.”
The relatives of some of the Israeli hostages still bꦓeing held by Palestinian Hamas terrorists as part of the conflict are expected to attend the parade.
The NYPD plans to beef up its typical deployment of about 700 cops along the parade route to ensure that anti-Israeli protesters don’t crash the march and spark trouble, the police source said.
The Police Department told The Post on Tuesday, “The NYPD will have an adequate security deployment.”
The event, which dates to 1964, will mark the first major Israeli celebration in the city since Oct. 7, when Ha🅺mas pulled off its sneak massacre in Israel that prompted the continuing war in the Gaza Strip.
The retaliatory pounding Israel offensive in the Palestinian-controlled territory of Gaza has sparked widespread anti-Israel and pro-terror protests in the five boroughs, including at Columbia University, and other Ivy League campuses and sites nationwide.
The often rowdy marꦰc𓆉hes have had many Jewish New Yorkers fearing for their safety.
But June 2, the Star of David will be everywhere along Fifth Avenue, p🐷arade organizers said.
“We’re going to continue to make this parade safe and secure,” said Treyger, a former Brooklyn councilman and onetime city Education Department rep for Mayor Eric Adams. “It is certainly the most important parade in recent memory — certainly in my lifetime.”
In a statement to The Post o🐠n Tuesday, Adams said the city is 100% behind the parade.
“There is no denying that our city — along with the rest of the nation — has seen an alarming rise in anti-Israel and antisemitic protests and rhetoric,” the mayor said. “But make no mistake, New York City will never cower in the face of those trying to divide us.
“On June 2, New Yorkers from all walks of life will be able to celebrate Israel, similar to how they have done for more than a decade, and I look forward to personally participating in this year’s event, as I have done for years,” he said.
“As always, the NYPD will continue to do what it does best: protect and serve the people of New York City so everyone has the ability to participate in this year’s festivities without fear.”
Treyger, the grandson of Holocaust survivors, added, “There’s a lot of enthusiasm and support for the parade.
“There’s great interest from Jewish families and friends of Israel in the tri-state region.”
He thanked City Hall and the police for 🌠being committed to the parade gettin🎃g off for another year.
The theme of the parade is “One People, One Heart.”
Treyger called the parade “one of the most important events to demonstrate our support and love for the State of Israel and the Jewish people.”
As for themes, he said the return of the hostages is on everyone’s mind.
“We want the hostages returned to their loved ones. We want to make sure Israel is safe for generations to come. We want peace for all people in the region.”
