Democrat Mayoral Candidate Responds to Inquiry on Past Police Statements

Zoran Mamdani, a Democratic candidate for mayor of New York City, sidestepped a reporter’s question on Wednesday about whether he regretted his earlier calls for police refunds following the recent tragic death of an NYPD officer.

In 2020, after the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis, Mamdani made several statements critical of the police, advocating for refunds from the NYPD. The inquiry came in light of the fatal shooting of officer Didarul Islam. During a press conference, a reporter asked Mamdani if he might reconsider the harsh remarks he made previously.

“When you grow and reflect on things, I think it’s only fair to ask, would you have preferred not to say those things a few years back?” the reporter posed.

Mamdani responded, noting, “My 2020 comments reflected the frustrations many New Yorkers felt regarding George Floyd’s murder and the police’s response. Mayor Eric Adams emphasizes that we should all be able to feel safe while pursuing justice. There shouldn’t be a need to choose between the two.”

The backdrop of this conversation was the recent shooting that claimed the life of 36-year-old Islam, who was killed in a lobby of a midtown Manhattan skyscraper, where a gunman shot multiple victims.

In a post on June 28, 2020, Mamdani described the NYPD as a significant threat to public safety and called for their funding to be redirected. He also labeled the department as “evil” and “corrupted” in a December statement.

Recently, Mamdani has distanced himself from those earlier posts. In a press conference, he clarified, “We are not advocating for refunds to the police. My previous statements about the NYPD were an obvious misstep when considering my current stance on law enforcement.”

“I’m not calling for police refunds. Throughout this campaign, I’ve been very clear about how I view public safety and the essential role of police in that context,” he added.

After Islam’s death, Mamdani paid tribute, saying, “His family can be proud. When he joined the force, his mother asked him about the danger of his job. He pursued it to create a legacy for his family. He succeeded, and I honor his dedication and sacrifice.”

Other mayoral candidates have seized on this situation to criticize Mamdani, arguing that his plans to cut the NYPD’s Strategic Response Group (SRG) might prioritize protests over urgent emergency responses.

New York Governor Kathy Hochul stated that she doesn’t endorse Mamdani’s call for police refunds, emphasizing her own position on this issue.