Washington, DC – As Islamophobia and fear-mongering in the New York City mayoral race have intensified this week, J Street President Jeremy Ben-Ami issued the following statement:
“J Street does not endorse in local elections, and our activists hold a variety of views about the New York City mayoral race.
While we may disagree with Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani and other candidates on issues related to Israel and Palestine, there is one point on which we are united: Laughing along as a Muslim candidate is smeared as a potential terrorist sympathizer fuels fear, division and Islamophobia. Jewish leaders and public figures should be condemning such bigotry, not amplifying it.
When politicians weaponize fear and identity to win votes, it cheapens our politics, divides our communities and endangers us all – Jews, Muslims and every minority. These tactics don’t just cross a political line – they cross a moral one. We urge former Governor Cuomo to apologize for his remarks and call on all community leaders to keep the focus of this campaign on issues, not identity.”