Coming out of the shadows
Throughout the election campaign, Mamdani faced Islamophobic attacks from political opponents. During a radio interview, former Governor Andrew Cuomo seems to have suggested Mamdani would have supported another 9/11. Republican mayoral candidate Curtis Sliwa accused him support for “global jihad,” and Mayor Eric Adams hinted that Mamdani is an extremist who supports “church burning.”
For Nasser and other Muslim New Yorkers, the attacks underscored that Islamophobia remains deeply entrenched. What stood out, Nasser said, was Mamdani's response, calling the attacks baseless and racist while remaining focused on accessibility and equality.
“He acted with great grace and patience,” the 40-year-old said. “It takes a lot of determination and a lot of patience to be criticized and attacked for these Islamophobic, unfounded statements and to be able to come out on the other side while still smiling.”
Shortly before his election, Mamdani published six-minute video message to Muslims in New York denouncing the racism that forces many to hide who they are.
“I will no longer look for myself in the shadows. I will find myself in the light,” Mamdani said in the video.
It's a message that resonated with Raza, who said she spent much of her life feeling pressure to remain invisible.
“I don’t want to do it now, and I don’t think anyone should do it now,” Raza said. “Mamdani is so unapologetic and he makes it so natural. And I think that's his strength.”
Mamdani says that after the video aired, many people reached out to him, including an elderly man who told him that he, too, was ready to come out of the shadows.
“My dream is to lead a city where every New Yorker can live the full version of themselves and not feel like they have to hide any part of themselves in order to be here and call themselves a New Yorker,” Mamdani said.
