Gov. Kathy Hochul faced boos and hecklers who gave her thumbs up as she marched uptown in the 82nd annual Columbus Day parade Monday in Manhattan.
Hochul, one of 35,000 participants, was flanked by Italian-American luminaries, Attorney General Letitia James and Catholic leaders as the parade headed toward St. Patrick’s Cathedral.
The 68-year-old Democratic governor, who was raised Catholic, has received his share of support, but has nonetheless received some cheers from the Bronx from some disgruntled observers.
“Get out of New York, get out of there. You’re a disgrace,” shouted a belligerent parade delegate, dressed in a business suit and a scarf with the Italian flag.
“You hate Italians and Catholics,” he added.
Another berated her with taunts of “communist,” the video showed.
Notably absent from the parade was Mayor Zohran Mamdani, who did not participate in the celebration of Italian-American contributions to the city because of his ideological opposition to Christopher Columbus.
It was the second major parade that Hizzoner did not participate in during his first year in office – he also chose not to participate in the Israel Day parade this spring.
Hochul, who is running for office next month, posted photos from the event and told X that she was honored to celebrate the “rich culture and traditions” of Italians, though she notably did not mention Columbus Day by name.
“We need to celebrate Italian Americans,” the Democrat told reporters before the march began.
“I’m excited to be here for my fifth or seventh walk with my best friends,” she said. “We’re going to celebrate the food, the culture, the music, the vitality of the Italian community, so we’re going to celebrate Italian American Heritage Month through October.”
U.S. Rep. Nicole Malliotakis (R-Staten Island) called Hochul and Mamdani “pathetic” in a social media post after the parade.
“New York has the largest Italian population in America and we have a governor and a mayor who can’t say, ‘Happy Columbus Day!’ “, she said. “As the Italians say….DISGRAZIA!”»
Hochul, who took office in 2021, faces Republican Bruce Blakeman as she seeks a second full four-term term in the Empire State, a reliably blue state.
Election day is November 3.
Additional reporting by Steven Vago, Amber Roldan and Carl Campanile
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