A political action committee that’s pouring significant funds into supporting Zoran Mamdani, a leading candidate for New York City mayor, has links to a New Jersey-based Palestinian group. This organization has hosted figures associated with a terrorist group tied to the recent attack on Israel on October 7, 2023.
We the People, America for All PAC has donated over $36,000 for a campaign ad promoting Mamdani’s bus-fare-free initiative, contributing to the mayoral race. This is documented in campaign finance records.
The ad identifies the PAC as a primary donor. The Truth Project, which is led by New Jersey attorney Abed Awad, has been associated with the Palestinian American Community Center in Clifton for some time. Awad has also served as treasurer for the PAC, stating, “We are the people, and America is for everyone.”
Diab Mustafa, the president of the Palestinian American Community Center, was one of the original directors of The Truth Project at its inception in 2022.
This organization has generated controversy; its annual conference featured a speech from Wissam Rafidi, a long-standing member of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, which is recognized as a terrorist organization in the U.S. Some observers claim he was involved in the violent assault on Israel in 2023.
The center has additionally promoted Rafidi’s publications and facilitated appearances by members of Samidun, a group designated as a PFLP front by multiple governments.
The PFLP is infamous for pioneering methods like plane hijacking and was behind the tragic attacks in 1972.
The Network Contagion Research Center, an independent watchdog that tracks political extremism, noted that the PAC’s strategy of emphasizing Mamdani’s bus proposal rather than Middle Eastern conflicts is a common tactic used by fringe groups to gain mainstream acceptance.
“These groups often latch onto universally appealing causes to disguise their real intentions and gain traction in political discussions,” explained NCRI Senior Counsel Alex Goldenberg.
The PAC is also associated with the “Uncommitted” movement, which divided the Democratic Party in 2024.
Last year, the nonprofit American Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee, where Awad is a director, collaborated on a campaign aimed at persuading Arab Americans to abstain from supporting Biden and Harris due to their stance on Israel.
Awad’s son, who was an uncommitted delegate at the Democratic National Convention, and Mohamed “Mo” Malaka, another co-founder of The Truth Project, played significant roles in these efforts.
The PAC has yet to clarify the funding sources behind its support for Mamdani, only stating that its finances are managed through The Truth Project and Malaka’s Moritico Consulting, which added that they haven’t reached the donation thresholds that would require formal disclosures.
The New York City Campaign Finance Commission chose not to comment on the matter.
Awad maintains that the PAC adheres to all regulations and claims it’s entirely independent from the organizations linked to him and Malaka, despite shared leadership. He expressed, “The Truth Project has no financial or operational involvement with the PAC beyond what is disclosed to authorities.”
Malaka also denied any personal connections to the PFLP or its affiliates, asserting, “I have no ties to PFLP/Samidoun and condemn all terrorist groups involved in the October 7 attacks on civilians.”
