Zohran Mamdani, a candidate in the Democratic primary for New York City mayor, faced backlash from Jewish organizations and political figures after defending the slogan “globalize the intifada” in an interview. When asked if the phrase discomforted him, he responded that it represented a “desperate desire for equality” in advocating for Palestinian human rights. He cited the U.S. Holocaust Museum’s use of “intifada” to describe the Warsaw Uprising against Nazis.
In response, the U.S. Holocaust Museum condemned Mamdani’s comments as “outrageous,” asserting that the term has been linked to violence against Jews since 1987. Anti-Defamation League CEO Jonathan Greenblatt labeled the phrase as “explicit incitement to violence.” Rep. Dan Goldman criticized Mamdani, emphasizing that “intifada” is associated with violent attacks against Israelis. He suggested that if Mamdani fails to condemn the term, he is unfit to lead a city with a large Jewish population.
Former Governor Andrew Cuomo, a major contestant in the race, also denounced Mamdani’s comments and highlighted the significance of words amidst rising antisemitism, tying them to recent violent attacks against Jews across the U.S. Mamdani, who has received progressive endorsements including from Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, expressed pain over being labeled antisemitic. At a press event, he became emotional discussing threats he has encountered during his campaign.
The race, which includes multiple candidates, will culminate in a primary scheduled for June 24, as the scandal-plagued incumbent mayor, Eric Adams, opts out of the Democratic contest.
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