Black Advocacy Group Targets Democratic Socialists of America with $2 Million Campaign

A national black advocacy organization has rolled out a $2 million initiative against the Democratic Socialists of America, particularly aimed at mayoral candidate Zoran Mamdani, arguing that their policies negatively impact African Americans.

“This is about principles, not just policies,” stated Darius Jones, the founder and executive director of the National Black Empowerment Action Fund (NBEAF). The group plans to allocate $1.3 million before the Election Day on November 4, focusing on warning Mamdani and his allies within the DSA.

Jones emphasized that “what the DSA promotes threatens to undermine everything that black New Yorkers have strived for over the years: safe neighborhoods, strong educational systems, and control over our own futures.” He remarked, “While they claim to seek progress, they are actually dismantling its very foundations.”

Jones further asserted that black Americans refuse to play test subjects for a failed ideology, insisting on their right to safety, excellence, and progress on their own terms.

Having previously worked as the deputy national policy director for former New York Mayor Mike Bloomberg’s 2020 presidential effort and as the African American campaign director for AIPAC, Jones brings extensive experience to this cause.

NBEAF has been investing heavily in advertisements and direct mail campaigns urging African American communities in places of worship to reject the DSA and its candidates, including Mamdani.

One flyer bluntly stated, “DSA: Dangerous. Unwise. Everything is wrong for Black Americans.”

The material cautioned about the “radical policies that threaten black communities,” noting the DSA’s support for prisoner releases, including those convicted of violent crimes, the abolishment of NYPD’s gang database, and the decriminalization of all drugs, even dangerous substances like heroin and fentanyl.

Community leaders have also rallied behind this anti-DSA, anti-Mamdani campaign. Imam Kazi Qayyum from the Muhammadi Community and Interfaith Center expressed concern over the impact of drugs on families and neighborhoods, saying, “DSA’s vision of justice would bring that destruction right back to our streets.” He is backing Mamdani’s opponent, former Governor Andrew Cuomo, in the election.

Adding to the critiques, Pastor Jide Hammatheit from Wayside Baptist Church asserted, “DSA wants to defund the police and decriminalize hard drugs. That’s not progress—it’s surrender. And that’s harmful to New York’s black communities.”

Pastor James Kilgore of Friendship Baptist Church criticized the DSA’s stance against school choice, which affects families of color. Meanwhile, Mamdani has shown opposition to expanding charter schools and aims to phase out gifted education programs in earlier grades.

“DSA wants to dismantle some of the few high-quality public schools we have, affecting over 130,000 black and brown children. How can you call that progressive?” Kilgore questioned.

Interestingly, most black voters tend to align with mainstream Democrats, not the left-leaning DSA. In fact, more black New Yorkers cast their votes for Cuomo than for Mamdani during the Democratic primary.

Though Mamdani secured the primary victory, Cuomo is now running as an independent candidate in the upcoming general election. Recent polls show a shift, with a majority of black voters moving away from Cuomo to back Mamdani, who is on the Democratic ticket.

Jones mentioned that the anti-DSA campaign is planned as a prolonged effort, extending beyond the election itself.

As of now, there hasn’t been a response from Mamdani or the DSA regarding these developments.