NEW YORK — American Muslim & Multifaith Women’s Empowerment Council (AMMWEC) leader Anila Ali has called on Americans to unite against antisemitism and what she described as the spread of radical ideologies, while addressing an “End Jew Hatred” rally in New York.

Speaking to participants, Ali said she saw hope in New York because, in her view, many residents were increasingly concerned about ideological polarization and the political direction of the city.

Ali, who said she had travelled from California, criticized the influence of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) and expressed strong opposition to the political ideology she associated with Democratic mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani.

She linked what she described as radical Islamist ideology to the September 11, 2001 attacks, recalling the deaths of nearly 3,000 people in the attacks carried out by al-Qaeda. She argued that Americans should remain vigilant against extremist ideologies while rejecting hatred and antisemitism.

“This is not a Democratic problem or a Republican problem. This is an American problem.” — Anila Ali, President, AMMWEC

Ali urged people from different political and religious backgrounds to work together against hatred rather than treating the issue along partisan lines.

An Immigrant’s Perspective

Ali also spoke about her own experience as an immigrant to the United States, saying she came to America from a Muslim-majority country because she valued the freedoms and opportunities she associated with the United States. She said those experiences shaped her opposition to what she described as political and religious extremism.

During her address, Ali made a number of allegations about Islamist organizations, the DSA, and individuals associated with American politics. She argued that political movements combining socialism, Marxism, and Islamism could pose a threat to American democratic institutions. Those claims were presented as her personal assessment and were not accompanied in the speech by evidence establishing them as fact.

Ali also criticized what she described as attempts to blame terrorist attacks on American foreign policy or on Jewish communities. She argued that such narratives contribute to antisemitism and divert attention from extremist movements.

Recalling Post-9/11 Solidarity

Referring to the aftermath of the September 11 attacks, Ali said she remembered receiving support from Jewish friends and rabbis while she was a relatively new immigrant in the United States. She portrayed that experience as an example of solidarity among Americans of different faiths during a national crisis.

The AMMWEC leader also cited examples from Michigan and California to argue that the influence of DSA-backed candidates and progressive political movements deserved greater public scrutiny. She expressed particular concern about political activism related to Gaza following the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack on Israel and the subsequent war.

Ali concluded her remarks with a call for Americans to defend democratic values and oppose antisemitism. Addressing the rally participants, she urged them to remain united.

A Movement Against Hatred

The “End Jew Hatred” movement has campaigned against antisemitism and sought to mobilize Americans across political and religious lines against hatred directed at Jewish communities. Ali’s appearance reflected the participation of Muslim and multifaith voices in efforts to combat antisemitism and promote interfaith solidarity.

Her speech also highlighted the continuing debate in the United States over the relationship between political ideology, religious extremism, antisemitism, immigration, and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

While Ali’s comments were sharply critical of progressive political movements and Islamist organizations, her central message was that combating antisemitism should be viewed as a shared American responsibility rather than solely as a partisan issue.