The New York City Police Department's hate crimes unit is grappling with a series of threats directed at Zohran Mamdani, a mayoral candidate in the city.
Mamdani's office has reported receiving four voicemails in recent months, each containing threats of violence against the candidate, his family, and his residence.
According to The Blaze, the most recent threat involved a car bomb, a threat that was rendered somewhat moot by the fact that Mamdani does not own a car. The voicemail, as reported by the New York Post, was filled with vitriol and hate. "You're a terrorist piece of s**t, and you're not welcome in New York or in America, neither is your f**king family so they should get the f**k out," the voicemail stated. "Go start your car and see what happens. I'd keep an eye on your house and family. Watch your f**king back every f**king second until you get the f**k out of America."
Mamdani's campaign responded to the threat, stating, "While Zohran does not own a car, the violent and specific language of what appears to be a repeat caller is alarming, and we are taking every precaution." The candidate has previously posted other threatening voicemails on his social media page, revealing a pattern of threats of varying degrees.
In a post in March, Mamdani attributed a threatening message he received to right-wing elements. The caller threatened to have the candidate "wash his European feet," while also labeling him a "terrorist" and a "pedophile." In November 2023, another voicemail posted by Mamdani called for the death of "all Muslim men, women, children, hamsters, birds, dogs, [and] cats."
The recent threats surfaced just a day after Mamdani faced criticism from Jewish groups, including the U.S. Holocaust Museum, for his support of the phrase "globalize the intifada." When questioned by reporters, Mamdani struggled to respond before pledging to combat anti-Semitism in New York City as mayor. "As mayor, I will protect Jewish New Yorkers," Mamdani stated.
However, New York reporter Oren Levy told Blaze News that while threats of violence against any politician, including Mamdani, are "absolutely unacceptable," the candidate's controversial remarks cannot be overlooked. "This doesn't excuse the fact that Mamdani has used language that is deeply offensive to the Jewish community. Instead of owning up to it, he's twisting the truth and playing the victim. We can condemn threats without ignoring the harm his words have caused," Levy said.
The NYPD has reported that the threatening calls were made from untraceable numbers, leading to "no arrests" thus far. However, an investigation by the NYPD Hate Crime Task Force is currently underway. This incident underscores the need for a robust response to hate crimes, while also highlighting the importance of responsible rhetoric from public figures.
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