NYC Mayoral Race Must Prioritize Security, Support 9/11 Victims
The Rev. Al Sharpton rallied behind mayoral hopeful Zohran Mamdani in Harlem, condemning what he called “ugly Islamophobia” and insisting the campaign should not paint every Muslim as a terrorist. The event brought faith leaders together and reignited questions about Mamdani’s associations, including a recent meeting with Brooklyn imam Siraj Wahhaj, who has been tied in headlines to the 1993 World Trade Center bombing. Candidates traded accusations about who is fueling division, while Mamdani framed his platform as a moral and economic renewal for working New Yorkers.
Sharpton refused to let attacks on religion go unchallenged and slammed the tone of the mayoral fight, saying “ugly Islamophobia that has been used in this campaign to act as though every Muslim is a terrorist and to act like something ugly, as what happened to us on 9/11 is an insult to the intelligence of all New Yorkers,” to a packed crowd at his House of Justice. He argued that faith communities should not be dragged into political smear campaigns and urged unity among Christians, Muslims, and Jews. The crowd responded with applause as he stood beside Mamdani and other leaders.
The event also brought painful history into the room when Pastor Miles Travis Boyd, whose mother died on 9/11, joined the lineup of speakers, highlighting how sensitive these debates are in New York. Sharpton made a point that showing up for someone’s campaign or taking a handshake is not the same as endorsing every association or statement tied to a candidate. He said plainly, “If you can’t get a vote on your record, don’t play us against each other,” and pressed for fairness in the race.
Andrew Cuomo, who faced backlash after a radio exchange with Sid Rosenberg, has been critical of Mamdani’s judgment and readiness to lead in a crisis. Cuomo accused Mamdani of stoking division and alleged antisemitism tied to his past statements and perceived reluctance to denounce calls for an “intifada.” Mamdani’s defenders said such attacks cross the line into prejudice, while critics insisted security and clear condemnation of violence are nonnegotiable for any serious candidate.
The controversy around Mamdani and his meeting with Siraj Wahhaj keeps resurfacing because Wahhaj is a figure tied to federal investigations as an unindicted co-conspirator in the 1993 World Trade Center bombing. That association has been amplified by opponents who argue that public leaders should be careful about whom they meet and the signals those meetings send. Supporters counter that engagement with community religious leaders is part of outreach and should not automatically define a candidate’s beliefs or policies.
Sharpton insisted he has spoken out against violence in recent conflicts, noting he denounced the Oct. 7, 2023, attacks and the ensuing war in Gaza. He pushed back hard on attempts to weaponize religion for political gain, saying, “I’m against Islamophobia. But to bring it into the politics of the biggest city in the world should not be allowed to go unchecked.” He used his platform to call for the Muslim and Jewish communities to come into the open and walk together politically rather than be pitted against one another.
In an unmistakable moment of endorsement, Sharpton declared Mamdani the candidate who showed up for communities in need, saying, “For fairness, for affordability, for those who’ve been victimized — I bring you the candidate who showed up, Zohran Mamdani,” as he shook the candidate’s hand. That kind of public backing from a high-profile activist matters in local politics and can shift the conversation away from temperament toward turnout and loyalty. Still, opponents will use associations to keep pressure on Mamdani through the campaign.
Mamdani framed his policy pitch in historical terms, invoking Reconstruction and the Freedmen’s Bureau to cast welfare programs as tools that uplift the poor and bind society together. He warned that modern conservative policies would “pilfer its coffers and smear it as socialist overreach,” arguing that attacks on SNAP, Medicare, and Medicaid favor the wealthy over the vulnerable. His rhetoric aims to draw a moral contrast with opponents who emphasize law, order, and fiscal restraint.
Campaign messaging now runs on two tracks: one side emphasizes security and the need to vet associations and statements, and the other pushes back against what it calls religious and racial scapegoating. That split plays out in communities across the city, where voters weigh concerns about safety against fears of prejudice and exclusion. Candidates will need to answer both kinds of questions convincingly to win broad support.
A request for comment to the White House was not immediately answered, and the episode shows how fast local contests can attract national attention. Whatever the outcome, this race will test whether New Yorkers prioritize outreach and inclusion or whether concerns about judgment and security dominate the mayoral debate. The next phases of campaigning will make clear which message resonates at the ballot box.
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