New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani plans to skip the Christopher Columbus Day parade, according to the New York Post. The parade, set for October 12, is expected to draw tens of thousands of participants and 1 million spectators and is dubbed by its organizers as the world’s largest celebration of Italian-American heritage. Mamdani’s decision not to attend the Columbus Day parade drew criticism from Italian-American civic leaders, who said his absence downplays the community’s contributions to New York City and the U.S. “He’s disrespectful to the Italian-American community, and not coming to the Columbus Day parade confirms it,” said Angelo Vivolo, chairman of the Columbus Heritage Coalition, which represents more than 50 Italian-American organizations. Vivolo added, “We know he hates Columbus. But the parade celebrates the rich culture and heritage of Italian-Americans.” Mamdani also enraged local Italian-Americans when he released an ethnic enclave map listing little-known communities in the five boroughs but omitting Little Italy and Arthur Avenue in the Bronx. Mamdani has a different way of supporting the Italian-American community Mamdani uploaded a nearly three-minute video statement celebrating Italian Heritage Month. In it, he paid tribute to Italian immigrants who helped build the city and honored East Harlem Rep. Vito Marcantonio, who fought for Social Security, unemployment benefits, and civil rights. He also said he will host an Italian-American heritage month reception at Gracie Mansion at a future date. Happy Italian Heritage Month, New York. Here’s continuing to fight for Vito Marcantonio’s vision of a government that works for all working people. pic.twitter.com/9mlQN7mAZR— Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani (@NYCMayor) October 10, 2026 Indigenous groups and other activists have urged Americans not to celebrate Columbus, the Italian navigator who is said to have discovered America. They say he brought genocide and colonization to communities that had been in the Americas for thousands of years. In recent years, cities around the world have taken down statues of Columbus. Mamdani also shared his personal view of Columbus in 2020, when he was running for the State Assembly. He posted a photo to social media of himself giving the middle finger to a Columbus statue with the caption “Take it down.” Aside from the Columbus Day Parade, the mayor did not join the Israel Day Parade in May, citing his opposition to the Israeli government and accusing them of committing genocide. Since assuming his post as New York’s mayor in January, Mamdani has marched in several ethnic and cultural events, including parades celebrating St. Patrick’s Day and Lunar New Year, as well as ones celebrating the West Indian, Ecuadorian, L.G.B.T.Q., Puerto Rican, Dominican, and Sikh communities, according to information from City Hall.