New York City Democratic mayoral nominee Zohran Mamdani got emotional Friday as he pushed back on what he said were anti-Islamic comments being made to attack his campaign.
The state assemblyman, who would be the city’s first Muslim mayor if elected, joined Muslim groups at a Bronx mosque to speak out against controversial statements made by former Gov. Andrew Cuomo and incumbent Mayor Eric Adams — remarks he said centered on his Muslim faith with thinly veiled references to Sept. 11 and Islamic extremism.
Mamdani spoke about the struggles he said he and other New York Muslims have experienced dealing with discrimination.
“Growing up in the shadow of 9/11, I have known what it means to live with an undercurrent of suspicion in this city. I will always remember the disdain that I faced. The way that my name could immediately become ‘Mohammed’ and how I could return to my city only to be asked in a double-mirrored room in the airport if I had any plan of attacking it,” he said.
Hakeem Jeffries backs Zohran Mamdani for NYC mayor
Cuomo, 67, had taken a shot at the 34-year-old assemblyman during an interview that aired Thursday morning with conservative radio host Sid Rosenberg…