FULL REMARKS: Mamdani delivers tearful speech on Muslim faith, slams Cuomo

Early Advice and the "Shadows" of Identity [00:06]

• A Muslim uncle advised the speaker not to reveal his faith for safety, a lesson learned from repeated experiences.
• This advice stemmed from the belief that Muslims could only find safety and embrace their full identities in the "shadows" of the city, shedding their faith if they emerged.
• Such lessons have been taught to many Muslim New Yorkers over time.

"It is the lesson that safety could only be found in the shadows of our city."

Political Attacks and Misrepresentations [00:20]

• Political figures like Andrew Cuomo, Curtis Leewa, and Eric Adams have echoed messages of hiding faith.
• Andrew Cuomo agreed with a radio host suggesting the speaker would "cheer another 911."
• Eric Adams warned against the city becoming "Europe," compared the speaker to violent extremists, and falsely claimed his movement aimed to burn churches and destroy communities.
• Curtis Lewa slandered the speaker, alleging support for "global jihad."
• Super PAC ads implied the speaker was a terrorist or mocked his eating habits.
• Push polls asked about fabricated proposals like mandatory halal food, and political cartoons depicted the candidacy as an airplane hitting the World Trade Center.

"Yesterday, Andrew Cuomo laughed and agreed when a radio host said that I would cheer another 911."

Personal Stories of Indignity [02:44]

• The speaker addresses the Muslims of New York City, including his aunt who stopped taking the subway after September 11th due to fear while wearing a hijab.
• He speaks to Muslim New Yorkers working for the city—teachers and NYPD officers—who make sacrifices and feel betrayed by their leaders.
• The speaker empathizes with children who grow up feeling "marked as the other" and singled out.
• He shares his personal experience of living with suspicion in the shadow of 9/11, facing disdain and being questioned at the airport about attacking the city.
• He acknowledges being spared worse experiences, like classmates being pressured to be informants or his mosque being set on fire.

"I want to speak to the memory of my aunt who stopped taking the subway after September 11th because she did not feel safe in her hijab."

Rejection of the "Shadows" and a Call for Dignity [04:33]

• The speaker, the first major Muslim candidate for mayor in the city's history, sought to be a candidate for all New Yorkers, not just the Muslim community.
• He believed a campaign of universality and hard work would define him as a leader for everyone, regardless of background.
• He realized his strategy of redirecting attention from baseless racist attacks and biting his tongue was a mistake.
• He concludes that no amount of redirection is enough, and by doing so, he inadvertently told young children and first-time voters to remain in the shadows.
• He now sees himself as embodying the uncle who advised him to hide, declaring "No more."

"I was wrong. No amount of redirection is ever enough."

Confronting Endemic Islamophobia [06:04]

• The dream of every Muslim is to be treated like any other New Yorker, but they have been told to accept less.
• The speaker states that certain forms of hate, specifically Islamophobia, are still considered acceptable in the city, leading to a lack of condemnation for incitement against mosques.
• Elected officials have sold t-shirts calling for his deportation without accountability.
• Over 1 million Muslims in the city feel like guests in their own homes.
• The upcoming election presents an opportunity to say goodbye to endemic anti-Muslim sentiment that has blurred partisan lines, with Islamophobia becoming an area of agreement.
• The speaker acknowledges those who defended him but notes that many Muslims lack the "luxury of being deemed worthy of solidarity."

"For as long as we have lived, we have known that no matter what anyone says, there are still certain forms of hate that are acceptable in this city."

Stepping into the Light [08:30]

• While opponents have amplified hatred, this is a daily reality for many across the city, and it reflects how New York has allowed itself to become.
• The question is whether New Yorkers will accept a narrow definition of what it means to be a New Yorker, diminishing dignity for many, or if they will step into the light together.
• With 12 days left until election day, the speaker affirms he will be a Muslim man in New York City, and he will not change who he is, how he eats, or his faith.
• The one thing he will change is that he will no longer look for himself in the shadows but will find himself in the light.

"Will we remain in the shadows or will we together step into the light?"