Zohran Mamdani declines to condemn 'globalize the intifada'. "That's not the language that I use."

[RandySF]

New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani on Sunday again declined to condemn the phrase “globalize the intifada” but emphasized he would be a mayor “that protects Jewish New Yorkers” if elected in November.

“That’s not language that I use,” Mamdani told NBC’s Kristen Welker on “Meet the Press.” “The language that I use and the language that I will continue to use to lead this city is that which speaks clearly to my intent, which is an intent grounded in a belief in universal human rights.

Mamdani, who last week scored an upset victory in the New York City Democratic mayoral primary against former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, took heat for declining to condemn the phrase in the days leading up to the vote.

But rather than reject the phrase, he told Welker “we have to root out that bigotry” and pointed to his campaign’s commitment to increase funding for anti-hate crime programming by 800 percent. Mamdani will face off against beleaguered New York City Mayor Eric Adams — and perhaps Cuomo again — in November.

“I’ve heard from many Jewish New Yorkers who have shared their concerns with me, especially in light of the horrific attacks that we saw in Washington, D.C. and in Boulder, Colorado, about this moment of antisemitism in our country and in our city,” Mamdani told Welker. “And I’ve heard those fears, and I’ve had those conversations.”



https://www.politico.com/news/2025/06/29/zohran-mamdani-globalize-the-intifada-00432052

[no_hypocrisy]

1. One of the several meanings of "Intifada" is civilian uprising against oppression.

This word has been used by certain Arabs, Palestinians, etc. in terms of eliminating Israel. But it's not exclusively meant to be just that. In 2000, Intifada was referenced against Israeli dominance in the West Bank, Gaza, and East Jerusalem when Ariel Sharon visited to the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound. Those residents who weren't Israeli Jews were and still are discriminated against by the Government and others. The Oslo Agreement was not being executed in a way that provided relief. Thus, the protests until 2005.

Another term that's overextended is "Jihad" which loosely means "struggle". It's not meant exclusively as battles and war militarily. It can be an internal struggle to integrate the Qu'ran into one's life day by day, hour by hour.

Back to the OP. I agree that Mamdani's choice of words is unfortunate without further explanation/clarification of what he meant. He can still explain, but I believe he should do it soon.

[RandySF]

2. That's a lot of time lost in explaining. .

[elleng]

3. 'my intent, which is an intent grounded in a belief in universal human rights.'