New York City changed overnight and for many Jews, the warning signs are flashing red.
The swearing-in of Mayor Zohran Mamdani set off a chain reaction: key antisemitism protections erased, BDS barriers dismantled and a political signal that leaves Jewish safety feeling negotiable. But panic isn’t the answer. Constitutional lawyer Mark Goldfeder lays out the real story behind the symbolism, the legal traps ahead and the surprisingly powerful tools still available. He lists everything New Yorkers can use to fight back when politics turn hostile: from federal civil rights law to the FACE Act. This isn’t a discussion about fear. It’s about leverage, law and what actually protects a community when the guardrails come down.