Recently resurfaced footage shows one of Mayor Zoran Mamdani’s transition advisers on crime expressing a strong opinion about Black Lives Matter protests in a way that might raise eyebrows. Tamika Mallory, chosen as part of the mayor’s community safety committee, made her comments during tense demonstrations in Minneapolis following George Floyd’s death in 2020.
In her speech, she stated, “We are not responsible for the mental illness that American governments, institutions, and people in positions of power inflict on our people. I don’t care if they burn Target down. Target should join us in the streets and demand the justice our people deserve.” It’s quite a statement, right?
She continued, “Don’t talk to us about looting. You guys are looters. America looted black people. America looted Native Americans when they first came here, so looting is what you do. We learned that from you.” Her words suggest a kind of frustration that strikes home for some.
Mallory, a former leader of the Women’s March, is not in a formal role within Mamdani’s administration, yet her remarks have ignited discussions on social media.
Her fiery comments come at a time when other statements from Mamdani’s advisers have also made headlines. For instance, Katherine Almonte da Costa resigned just after being appointed as the city’s appointments chief, due to older social media posts that included anti-Semitic sentiments.
Moreover, Shea Weaver, another adviser, has faced criticism for referring to homeownership as a “weapon of white supremacy.” Ironically, she’s also been called out for bemoaning gentrification in her Brooklyn neighborhood, which is puzzling given her background as a white, middle-class immigrant.
