In the aftermath of a tragic mass shooting in Midtown Manhattan, New York City Democratic mayoral nominee Zohran Mamdani finds himself under fire for his previous calls to defund and dismantle the NYPD.
The incident, which claimed the lives of four civilians and an off-duty police officer, has reignited debate over public safety and policing in the city.
The fallen officer, Didarul Islam, aged 36, was serving in a security capacity when the shooting unfolded. Despite being off-duty, Islam, a dedicated NYPD veteran with four years of service, heroically intervened to protect others as the assailant, identified as Shane Tamura from Las Vegas, unleashed gunfire.
In response to the tragedy, Mamdani expressed his sorrow on social media, stating, Im heartbroken to learn of the horrific shooting in Midtown, and I am holding the victims, their families, and the NYPD officer in critical condition in my thoughts. Grateful for all of our first responders on the ground. At the time of his post, Mamdani was in Uganda celebrating his marriage.
However, as reported by The Post Millennial, Mamdani's expression of condolences was swiftly met with criticism online. Social media users were quick to highlight several of his past statements from 2020, during the height of the Black Lives Matter and Antifa protests, where he advocated for defunding the police.
In a post dated June 8, 2020, Mamdani declared, No, we want to defund the police. He further emphasized his stance on November 5, 2020, by stating, Queer liberation means defund the police. Another post from June 28, 2020, read, We don't need an investigation to know that the NYPD is racist, anti-queer & a major threat to public safety. What we need is to #DefundTheNYPD. NO to fake cuts defund the police. He even went as far as to say, Defund it. Dismantle it. End the cycle of violence.
Critics accuse Mamdani of attempting to pivot his stance to appeal to a wider voter base, especially after his recent primary victory. During a primary debate, Mamdani appeared to retract his earlier comments, asserting, I will not defund the police. I will work with the police because I believe the police have a critical role to play in public service, public safety.
Meanwhile, incumbent Mayor Eric Adams, who is running as an Independent and is a former NYPD officer himself, shared a poignant message as he made his way to the hospital for the dignified transfer of Officer Islams body. Im on the way to the dignified transfer of fallen police officer Didarul Islam, who was killed in tonights senseless mass shooting in Midtown Manhattan, Adams stated. He put his life on the line for all of us and died a hero. He and his family are in my prayers tonight, and Im praying for the families of the three other innocent people killed tonight, as well as the fifth victim still fighting for their life.
The upcoming mayoral election on November 4 is shaping up to be a contentious battle. Mamdani's victory over former Governor Andrew Cuomo in the Democratic primary has altered the race's dynamics. Cuomo, choosing to remain in the race as an Independent, sets the stage for a high-stakes contest against Mamdani, Adams, and Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa.
The election will undoubtedly serve as a referendum on the future of policing and public safety in New York City, with voters weighing the candidates' past statements and current positions.
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