Controversial Endorsement Rocks New York Politics
New York State Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani has ignited a political firestorm by endorsing a controversial candidate to replace him, a figure who previously attributed the September 11th attacks to white supremacy and the American system. The endorsement has drawn fierce criticism from commentators across the political spectrum.
A Deep Dive into the Candidate's Past Remarks
The candidate, Aber Kawas, is a 33-year-old Palestinian-American activist who only moved to the 36th district last year. Her candidacy gained significant attention after The New York Daily News uncovered comments she made in 2017 at an Asian American Writers' Workshop event.
In her remarks, Kawas, who holds a Master's degree in Islamic Liberation Theology from a South African university, directly connected the 9/11 attacks to foundational American structures. "The system of capitalism and racism and white supremacy and Islamophobia have all been used to colonize lands, to take resources from other people," she stated, "so this is a long trajectory and we're just seeing the manifestations of that continuation with 9/11."
She further argued that demands for apologies for terrorist attacks are disproportionate, stating, "The idea that we have to apologize for a terror attack that a couple people did and then there is no apology for genocides or slavery is something that I find reprehensible."
Political Fallout and Internal Party Rivalry
The revelation of these comments has provoked widespread outrage. One commentator questioned, "What the hell was Zohran thinking?" while another wrote, "It is getting absurd how many people seeking political office clearly hate this country." Critics have also drawn parallels to Mamdani's association with leftist streamer Hasan Piker, who previously claimed America "deserved 9/11".
Adding a layer of internal party conflict, Kawas's primary opponent in the special election is another member of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA), Brian Romero. Romero serves as deputy chief of staff to Assemblymember Jessica Gonzales-Rojaz. Both Mamdani and Kawas are prominent members of the DSA, with Mamdani having established himself as a firebrand leftist with a record of anti-Israel activism.
In response to the growing controversy, The Daily Mail has contacted both Zohran Mamdani and Aber Kawas for comment.
