Between the vicious lies and discrimination against Mayor Zohran Mamdani in NYC, the despicable statements made at the Jewish American Summit in LA, and the attacks on Abdul El-Sayed in Michigan, the level of Islamophobia catapulted at our Muslim cousins right now — some of it from our own Jewish community — is staggering. 

The bigotry, fear-mongering and hate targeting Muslims is escalating, fueled by people with power and a platform: NYC politicians; far-right Jewish activists and members of the Jewish establishment alike; and most of all, leaders of the fascist, white Christian nationalist federal government.

We refuse to normalize it.

25 years ago, at another moment of surging Islamophobia, Jewish and Muslim New Yorkers came together to engage in 9/11 recovery efforts, but also to fight back against the “war on terror” and illegal NYPD surveillance. We have not left each other’s sides. After the Tree of Life shooting. After the shooting in Christchurch. And, in our shared efforts to elect the first Muslim Mayor of New York. 

We could not ask for a better, more compassionate, more humble leader for our city as we prepare to mark 25 years since the devastating attack on the twin towers than Mayor Zohran Mamdani. 

Mayor Mamdani and his many Jewish and Muslim supporters embody an invitation into real solidarity between our communities at a time when it is needed most. We are proud to be part of the growing and visionary coalition building a future free from Islamophobia, antisemitism, and all forms of bigotry and oppression. 

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Jews For Racial & Economic Justice (JFREJ) is a 6,000-member grassroots organization and the home of New York’s Jewish Left. For over 30 years, JFREJ members have organized alongside our neighbors to transform New York from a playground for the wealthy few into a real democracy, free from all forms of racist violence.