Zohran Mamdani, the Democratic candidate for Mayor of New York City, vowed to more strongly embrace his Muslim identity in response to attacks he described as “racist and baseless,” primarily from former Governor Andrew Cuomo and his associates.
Speaking passionately outside a mosque in the Bronx, Mamdani highlighted the “humiliations” that the Muslim community in the city has long faced. He recalled: “These are lessons that so many Muslim New Yorkers have been taught.”
He particularly mentioned his aunt, who chose not to take the subway after the 9/11 attacks because she did not feel safe wearing a hijab. Mamdani also noted that early in his political career, his uncle advised him to keep his faith private.
Despite criticism over his views on Israel which he has described as allegations of “genocide” against Palestinians in Gaza Mamdani defended his right to express his identity and emphasized the importance of confronting racism and Islamophobia.
