Mamdani: I’ve Spoken to Many Muslims Who Said They Are Branded as Terrorist Just by Living in Public Life

EXCERPT:

MAMDANI: "You know, it’s sad. In one sense, it’s unsurprising, and in another, it is still deeply disappointing to see what politics has become in this moment, to have to deal with regular death threats where I’m told that someone is going to blow up my car and is going to kill me and my family and the people that I love. And I’ve spoken to many Muslims across this city who have shared that their fear of having to be essentially branded a terrorist just by living in public life is one that keeps them preferring life in the shadows, life outside of that specter. And this is not the way that we can have our city be. It’s not the way that we can have our country be. This has to be a place where we understand the mutual belonging of each and every person here. And I’m lucky to have friends and family that keep me moving through this. I’m lucky that I’m able, through my campaign, to have security, and also to have the assistance of the NYPD in both investigating these threats and ensuring that I have the same public safety that each and every New Yorker deserves."