Democratic Socialist candidate Zoran Mamdani is facing accusations of harboring “hatred” toward Italian-Americans after his call to remove the statue of Christopher Columbus.
The Columbus Heritage Union, which includes 40 Italian-American organizations, pointed to tweets from 2020 where Mamdani was seen giving a middle finger to the Columbus statue in Astoria, proclaiming, “I will defeat it.”
Angelo Vivolo, the Union President, expressed in a strong statement, “It should be clear by now that Italian-Americans have zero tolerance for hatred. So why does the mayoral Democratic candidate harbor such disdain for us and our heritage?”
In his statement, Vivolo described Queens Councilman Mamdani, who aims for the mayoral position, as openly displaying his animosity, especially on social media.
In recent years, historical Italian figures have come under fire for their roles in violent conquests, slavery, and forced conversions during their explorations centuries ago.
Although Columbus Day remains a federal holiday celebrated across the U.S., more cities are now opting to recognize Indigenous Peoples Day, sometimes celebrating both days together.
Biboro remarked, “Mamdani advocates for the removal of the monument that honors Columbus’ achievements and seeks to abolish Columbus Day.”
He further emphasized that such symbols are profoundly significant to many, particularly within the Italian-American community. “Mamdani’s divisive language and extreme ideology could worsen societal divides when what we need is unity and effective leadership,” Biboro said.
Biboro also accused Mamdani, who supports boycott actions against Israel, of inadvertently fostering anti-Semitism due to his reluctance to denounce the phrase “globalization of intifadas.” Following backlash, Mamdani stated he would discourage the phrase’s use.
Biboro added, “While one might oppose a state’s actions, discriminating against people from those nations is an entirely different matter. Our diverse cities thrive on respect for racial, religious, and ethnic differences.”
He concluded with a warning that antagonizing one group can lead to discontent among all.
The letter urged Mamdani to “rescind his harmful remarks, halt his divisive actions, and engage with all communities.”
Vivolo warned, “If he fails to do so, Italian-Americans and aware voters will recognize the threats posed by a Mamdani administration and instead support candidates committed to genuine solutions and shared values.”
Italian-American leaders have recently convened to discuss Mamdani’s stance on Columbus.
Mamdani’s campaign has yet to provide a response to these claims.
He won the ranked Democratic primary in June but will face Republican Curtis Sliwa, former Governor Andrew Cuomo, and current Mayor Eric Adams, who is running as an independent, in the November election.
