Muslim interfaith activist says she will march in NYC Israel parade despite threats

Anila Ali, a Pakistani-American Muslim and women’s rights activist, says she will lead the first Muslim group to march in the Israel on Fifth Parade in New York City today, despite threats.

Ali tells the New York Post that “nothing is deterring me.”

“We are a little worried after somebody’s been calling and saying to wear a bulletproof vest,” Ali tells the newspaper. “But we’re fighting to take back our country and it’s a fight that every American should join.”

“I’m now speaking at the height of antisemitism in America for my Jewish brothers and sisters,” the founder of the American Muslim and Multifaith Women’s Empowerment Council says, adding that she hopes to be joined by a few dozen members of the Muslim community for the march.

Last week, Democratic socialist Councilwoman Shahana Hanif wrote on X that she hoped Ali and another organizer were condemned to the Islamic equivalent of hell for joining a protest against NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani.

Mamdani will be the first mayor of the city to skip the parade in over 60 years.