During an interview that aired Thursday on CNN's AC360, New York City mayoral candidate Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani (D) said his 2023 remarks that “when an NYPD boot is on your neck, it's laced by the IDF” referred to “a training exercise that took place between the NYPD and the IDF.” But he doesn't think the NYPD is still working hand in hand with the IDF.
Host Anderson Cooper showed a video of Mamdani saying: “I think in order for anyone to care about these issues, we have to make them hyperlocal. We have to make it clear that when the NYPD boot is on your neck, it's being tightened by the IDF. We have to keep bringing up not this particular example, but just saying it for working class people who have so little time, who have so much stress, who are under so much pressure, it's not a lot of time.” for symbolism. We have to connect it materially to their lives.”
Cooper then asked, “What does this mean? It was only two years ago, what does it mean that the NYPD's boots were laced by the IDF?”
Mamdani replied: “It was a reference to a training exercise that took place between the NYPD and the IDF. And I said again -.”
Cooper then intervened and asked, “So, do you still believe that the NYPD is essentially working hand in hand with the IDF?”
Mamdani responded, “No, I've made it very clear that I have concerns about this exercise. And I'm focused on working with the NYPD to actually provide public safety for New Yorkers in all five boroughs. And I've made the decision to retain Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch because of her ability to provide that safety while reducing crime in all five boroughs.”
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