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Karl Anthony-Towns attends New York Jewish fundraiser as Kyrie Irving, Victor Wembanyama like Mamdani's anti-Israel video

New York Knicks NBA champion Karl Anthony-Towns attended a Monday night fundraiser for Chazaq, a Jewish youth education group based in New York City, where he told the crowd it was "an honor to be able to play for y'all…

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NewsMV Markets Desk
3 min read
26 July 2026Markets desk
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New York Knicks NBA champion Karl Anthony-Towns attended a Monday night fundraiser for Chazaq, a Jewish youth education group based in New York City, where he told the crowd it was "an honor to be able to play for y'all and represent what this city is." His attendance arrives at a moment when the NBA's public posture on Israel has fractured and antisemitic hate crimes in New York City remain at elevated levels.

The Chazaq fundraiser

Chazaq focuses on Jewish youth education in New York City. The organization presented Towns with a gift promoting its "speak no evil" anti-bullying campaign, according to The Algemeiner, which first reported the event. Towns offered no further public statement beyond the remarks attributed to him at the gathering.

Irving, Wembanyama and the Mamdani video

Dallas Mavericks guard Kyrie Irving and San Antonio Spurs star Victor Wembanyama both liked an Instagram video posted by New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani. In it, Mamdani called Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu a "war criminal" and urged federal authorities to arrest Netanyahu if he enters New York City. Both actions drew immediate scrutiny.

Mamdani has since faced criticism from prominent Jewish organizations and elected officials who argue his rhetoric about Netanyahu and Israel contributes to a climate of rising antisemitism inside the city. Jewish leaders have also cited Mamdani's rhetoric in connection with an ongoing hate crime probe tied to an Upper West Side stabbing.

New York hate crime data

NYPD figures for 2026 put the scope of that concern in numbers. In the first quarter, the department recorded 78 antisemitic cases out of 143 total confirmed hate crimes. Antisemitic incidents represented 55% of all confirmed hate crimes for the period. The broader 2026 figure holds between 55% and 60% of all confirmed hate crimes across the city. Jewish New Yorkers make up approximately 10% of the city's population.

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Filed via foxnews.com

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Key takeaways

Frequently asked

Why did Karl Anthony-Towns attend the Chazaq fundraiser?

He attended the Monday night fundraiser for the Jewish youth education group Chazaq, telling the crowd it was an honor to play for and represent New York City.

What did Kyrie Irving and Victor Wembanyama do involving Mayor Mamdani?

Both liked an Instagram video posted by NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani in which he called Netanyahu a "war criminal" and urged federal authorities to arrest him if he enters New York City, drawing immediate scrutiny.

What did Mamdani say in the video?

He called Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu a "war criminal" and urged federal authorities to arrest Netanyahu if he enters New York City.

What do the NYPD hate crime statistics show for 2026?

In the first quarter of 2026, the NYPD recorded 78 antisemitic cases out of 143 confirmed hate crimes, representing 55%, with the broader 2026 figure between 55% and 60%.

Why has Mamdani faced criticism from Jewish organizations?

Jewish organizations and officials argue his rhetoric about Netanyahu and Israel contributes to rising antisemitism, and have cited it in connection with an ongoing hate crime probe tied to an Upper West Side stabbing.