Zohran Mamdani, the Democratic nominee for New York City mayor, has committed to stop using the phrase "globalize the Intifada" and to discourage others from using it as well, following backlash over its implications. According to The Guardian, Mamdani clarified his position during a closed-door meeting with business executives organized by the Partnership for New York City.
Some consider the phrase a call to violence against Jews, raising concerns among various stakeholders. The decision to step back from the slogan comes as Mamdani faces criticism from parts of the Jewish community and broader unease among business leaders over his policy positions. As per reports by Gothamist, Kathy Wylde, the head of the influential business group, shared that Mamdani does not plan to utilize the contentious term and intends to caution others against its use.
Mamdani, whose campaign has leaned heavily on progressive policies such as taxing the wealthy to fund social services, faces resistance from business executives who worry that his platform could drive away the city's tax base and corporations. Despite this, Tuesday's meeting seems to have slightly assuaged those fears, with one attendee describing Mamdani as "much less scary" even while some disagreements persisted, according to an interview on WNYC's "All Things Considered" cited by Gothamist.
The mayoral candidate's predicament has also caught national attention, with Jamie Dimon of JPMorgan publicly criticizing Mamdani's positions. Although Dimon did not attend the meeting, a spokesperson for JPMorgan stated that he had other commitments and could not attend, as per The Guardian. Notably, several high-profile New York Democrats, including Hakeem Jeffries and senator Chuck Schumer, have yet to endorse Mamdani. Schumer directly condemned the phrase "globalize the Intifada", calling it "really wrong," in a statement to The Guardian.
Mamdani's stance on the slogan and his broader policy proposals will continue to be scrutinized as he goes up against Eric Adams, Andrew Cuomo, and Republican Curtis Sliwa in November’s mayoral election.
