Zohran Mamdani declines to condemn ‘globalize the intifada'
'That's not language that I use,' Mamdani told NBC's Kristen Welker on 'Meet the Press.' 'The language that I use and the language that I will continue to use to lead this city is that which speaks clearly to my intent, which is an intent grounded in a belief in universal human rights.
Mamdani, who last week scored an upset victory in the New York City Democratic mayoral primary against former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, took heat for declining to condemn the phrase in the days leading up to the vote.
But rather than reject the phrase, he told Welker 'we have to root out that bigotry' and pointed to his campaign's commitment to increase funding for anti-hate crime programming by 800 percent. Mamdani will face off against beleaguered New York City Mayor Eric Adams — and perhaps Cuomo again — in November.
'I've heard from many Jewish New Yorkers who have shared their concerns with me, especially in light of the horrific attacks that we saw in Washington, D.C. and in Boulder, Colorado, about this moment of antisemitism in our country and in our city,' Mamdani told Welker. 'And I've heard those fears, and I've had those conversations.'
The word 'intifada' has been used to describe Palestinian uprisings against Israel, beginning in 1987. The phrase 'globalize the intifada' has drawn criticism because of fears among Jewish people that it suggests support for the use of targeted violence against Jews around the world.
New York Rep. Jerry Nadler, a Jewish Democrat, handed Mamdani a boost by endorsing him last Wednesday. Sen. Chuck Schumer, the Jewish Senate minority leader, congratulated Mamdani on social media last week but has not yet backed his campaign. Meanwhile, the state's junior senator, Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) called on Mamdani to denounce the term last Thursday.
Mamdani has also faced xenophobic attacks since his victory, with top MAGA-aligned commentators including President Donald Trump's eldest son leaning into his Muslim faith.
'New York City has fallen,' Donald Trump Jr. wrote on X last week.
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