Council Members Tiffany Cabán and Alexa Avilés Respond to Senator Kirsten Gillibrand’s Racist, Islamophobic Comments about Assemblymember Zohran Mamdani

June 27, 2025

New York City

In response to Senator Kirsten Gillibrand’s racist, Islamophobic comments on the Brian Lehrer Show, New York City Council Members Tiffany Cabán and Alexa Avilés released the following statement: 

“Yesterday on the Brian Lehrer Show, Senator Kirsten Gillibrand spread inflammatory, racist lies about the Democratic nominee for Mayor of New York City, Assemblymember Zohran Mamdani.

Senator Gillibrand should know better. It seems she has focused on false, unfounded claims and succumbed to anti-Muslim bias instead of listening to Assemblymember Mamdani's actual statements, track record, and policies, all of which have made clear his explicit condemnation of antisemitism and violence. As a result, she has allied herself with MAGA fascists, who are currently unleashing a torrent of unhinged Islamophobia directed at the Democratic nominee for mayor.

We build safety for all New Yorkers through relationships based on solidarity, not division. We call on Senator Gillibrand to apologize, correct the record about Assemblymember Mamdani, formally endorse him as the Democratic nominee for Mayor, and to dedicate herself to addressing Islamophobia and racism alongside antisemitism, instead of fanning the flames of division and hatred.” 

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