Democratic Congressman Ritchie Torres has publicly criticized New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani for his lack of condemnation of the controversial slogan ‘globalize the intifada’ during a recent appearance on ‘CNN News Central.’ Torres emphasized the deep offense caused by the phrase, particularly to the Jewish community, and argued that every elected official has a moral duty to denounce such language. The incident has intensified the already contentious political landscape, with Mamdani’s position on the issue sparking significant debate among Democratic figures and the public.
Mamdani, a self-described democratic socialist and practicing Muslim, recently secured a narrow victory in the Democratic primary for the New York City mayoral race, defeating prominent candidates such as former Governor Andrew Cuomo. Despite his win, Mamdani has faced mounting criticism for his refusal to distance himself from the controversial phrase during an appearance on ‘Meet the Press.’ When confronted directly by host Kristen Welker about his stance on ‘globalize the intifada,’ Mamdani deflected, stating that his focus was on promoting human rights and that the role of the mayor is not to police speech. This response drew sharp rebuke from Torres and other Democrats, who argued that the need to condemn hate speech is not equivalent to the extreme measures of imprisoning critics for their opinion.
The controversy surrounding the slogan has also drawn the attention of other influential Democrats, including Sen. Kristen Gillibrand, who has previously called on Mamdani to take a firm stand against such rhetoric. MSNBC host Rev. Al Sharpton and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries have also voiced their concerns, emphasizing the potential damage to public trust and the importance of clear leadership in politically charged times. As the mayoral campaign progresses, the unresolved issue of Mamdani’s position on the controversial phrase may continue to influence both the political discourse and public perception of his candidacy.