A tense scene unfolded in Manhattan's Foley Square on Friday as New York mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani bolted from a public event, pursued by a furious protester accusing him of antisemitism.
According to Breitbart, Mamdani, a Democrat and self-described democratic socialist, was chased to a waiting SUV by a man in a backward baseball cap shouting demands to denounce Hezbollah and Sharia law.
The confrontation teetered on the edge of violence when the protester and one of Mamdani's aides exchanged shoves before the vehicle sped away.
Earlier that day, Mamdani had been at a rally supporting New York Attorney General Letitia James, who faces recent charges of mortgage fraud tied to a Virginia property.
The event in Foley Square, accompanied by the steady beat of a drum, turned chaotic as the protester's chants echoed, branding Mamdani a "rat" for refusing to condemn the groups and ideologies in question.
Such public outbursts aren't new for Mamdani, whose campaign has faced repeated calls to reject phrases like "globalize the intifada," widely seen by many Jewish communities as inciting violence beyond just criticism of Israel.
Back in June, during an appearance on Meet the Press, Mamdani addressed some of these concerns, stating, "That's not the language I would use," and pledged to "protect Jewish New Yorkers" if elected.
Yet, while he later mentioned he would "discourage" the use of "intifada," his reluctance to fully disavow such rhetoric leaves room for doubt about where he truly stands on these divisive issues.
His critics argue this half-measure approach fails to reassure those who see such terms as thinly veiled calls to harm, not just to political protest.
On Tuesday, Mamdani issued a statement on X about the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel, saying, "I mourn these lives and pray for the safe return of every hostage still held and for every family whose lives were torn apart by these atrocities."
Almost in the same breath, he criticized Israeli and U.S. policies, claiming the Israeli response was a "genocidal war" and that "our government has been complicit through it all," a stance that drew sharp rebuke from the Israeli Foreign Ministry.
The ministry fired back on X, accusing Mamdani of "acting as a mouthpiece for Hamas propaganda" and stating, "He stands with Jews only when they are dead. Shameful."
Mamdani's harsh words for Israel's military actions in the ongoing conflict with Hamas continue to fuel controversy, especially as he navigates a mayoral race in a city with a significant Jewish population.
While mourning victims on both sides, his rhetoric often seems to tilt heavily against Israeli leadership and U.S. involvement, risking alienation of voters who seek a more balanced approach to such a complex issue.
With confrontations like the one in Foley Square, it's clear Mamdani's candidacy will remain a lightning rod, forcing New Yorkers to weigh whether his brand of socialism offers solutions or simply deepens existing divides.
