During a recent appearance on "The Breakfast Club," rapper and activist Mysonne Linen, who has a history of incarceration, repeatedly mispronounced the name of New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani.
Despite being appointed to Mamdani's transition team's criminal legal system committee, Linen struggled with the pronunciation, referring to the mayor-elect as "Mandami" and "Mandani."
According to the Daily Caller, Mamdani's team misspelled Linen's name as "Mysoone" on the committee roster, which perhaps adds a layer of irony to the situation. Linen, who served seven years in prison for armed robbery, has since become a vocal advocate for criminal justice reform. During the interview, he emphasized his commitment to community work, stating, "I really just want to focus on just doing this work. Shout out to Mayor Mandami and his team. My team, Until Freedom, weve been doing this work Im not getting no check for this."
Linen's dedication to the cause is evident as he plans to engage with formerly incarcerated individuals, addressing their challenges in civic participation and employment. He highlighted the importance of empowering this demographic, noting, "Formerly incarcerated people a lot of them dont even realize they can vote, how strong they are. Its millions of people who are formerly incarcerated that have really just lost belief in the system."
Despite his involvement with Mamdani's team, Linen made it clear that he would not hesitate to hold the mayor-elect accountable, stating, "If they do something wrong, Ima be outside protesting Mandami, too." This stance underscores his commitment to advocacy over political allegiance.
Linen's past includes a conviction in 1999 for armed robbery, which he claims was wrongful. Since then, he has dedicated himself to activism, focusing on criminal justice reform and gun violence prevention. His efforts align with Mamdani's vision for New York City, which includes the creation of a $1.1 billion "Department of Community Safety." This initiative aims to redirect non-violent and mental health-related calls from the police to civilian teams, while maintaining the current size of the NYPD.
Mamdani, who has previously called for defunding the NYPD, labeling it as "racist, anti-queer and a major threat to public safety," has since moderated his stance during his campaign. This shift reflects a broader trend among progressive politicians who are recalibrating their positions to address public safety concerns while advocating for reform.
The collaboration between Linen and Mamdani highlights the complexities of criminal justice reform and the diverse voices involved in shaping its future. As New York City prepares for a new administration, the focus on community safety and empowerment of marginalized groups remains a priority. Linen's involvement, despite the initial missteps, signals a commitment to addressing these critical issues head-on.
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