MSNBC Host Al Sharpton Calls for Zohran Mamdani to Meet with Jewish Leaders
On Monday, MSNBC’s Al Sharpton stated that New York City’s Democratic mayoral candidate, Zohran Mamdani, should engage with Jewish community leaders to affirm his support after facing backlash for refusing to denounce anti-Israel phrases.
During a panel discussion, Sharpton stood alongside Mamdani, a democratic socialist. He emphasized the importance of clarifying the implications of the term “intifada globalization” now that Mamdani has won the Democratic primary. Sharpton noted that as a mayoral candidate, Mamdani needs to directly address whether he supports such rhetoric, suggesting, “You cannot avoid it, especially in your position.”
Sharpton’s comments came in light of increased scrutiny over Mamdani’s past remarks. Mamdani recently appeared on NBC’s “Meet the Press,” where he was asked about the Palestinian slogan “Globalization the Intifada,” which some interpret as a call for violence against Israel. When pressed for a condemnation, he stated, “That’s not the language I use,” reiterating his commitment to a broader message centered around universal human rights.
Additionally, Sharpton acknowledged that, while he hasn’t seen evidence of antisemitism from Mamdani, it’s crucial that he denounces certain phrases. He reflected on his own experiences in activism, urging that it’s important to take offensive language seriously. Sharpton recalled facing criticism in his past for dismissive remarks regarding Jewish communities.
He supported calls from Jonathan Greenblatt, head of the Anti-Defamation League, for Mamdani to meet with influential Jewish leaders in the city. Sharpton remarked, “He should absolutely meet with the Jewish community, and I believe he will.”
Criticism of Mamdani has come from prominent Democrats, including Senator Kirsten Gillibrand and Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, especially concerning his reluctance to denounce the term “intifada.” As of now, Mamdani’s team has yet to respond to media inquiries regarding these issues.
