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<\/a><\/p>\nNew York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani addresses the crowd during the ‘Get Out the Vote’ rally at the Kings Theatre in Brooklyn on June 18, 2026. (Selcuk Acar\/Anadolu via Getty Images)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
Mamdani made his remarks at a rally headlined by Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) at Kings Theater in Brooklyn ahead of Tuesday\u2019s Democratic primaries for progressive congressional candidates. He called on the crowd to help elect Jewish former New York City Comptroller Brad Lander, State Assembly member Claire Valdez and former Columbia encampment organizer Darializa Avila Chevalier. <\/p>\n
In a fiery 30-minute speech, Mamdani took aim not just at AIPAC but also Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his handling of the war in Gaza. He claimed that \u201cThe monsters that we are up against, they take many different forms,\u201d and then singled out AIPAC. <\/p>\n
He described the major pro-Israel lobby as an organization \u201cfor whom the only thing more frightening than democracy being allowed to run its course is an end to genocide and Netanyahu\u2019s wars.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mamdani continued by alleging that AIPAC moves \u201cmillions in dark money to accomplish a single goal, to preserve their power so that they can turn us against one another instead of our leaders turning towards the moral change we all know to be necessary.\u201d<\/p>\n
AIPAC did not respond to a request for comment about Mamdani\u2019s remarks. <\/p>\n
The lobby, whose endorsement was once heavily sought by politicians on both sides of the aisle, has increasingly come under fire for its campaign tactics. Pro-Israel Democrats are particularly struggling to hold onto seats as voters on the left increasingly turn against the Jewish state. <\/p>\n
Sanders, for his part, doubled down on criticism of AIPAC when he took the stage. \u201cThe American people understand that a large part of our horrific foreign policy is impacted by AIPAC funding,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Turning to the local races, Mamdani voiced support for Valdez for her opposition to Israel. \u201cWhen other Democrats chose to look the other way as Netanyahu committed war crimes, Claire didn\u2019t just name the genocide,\u201d he said. \u201cShe organized for a ceasefire.\u201d<\/p>\n
In a change of tone, Mamdani emphasized unity, including an appeal to Jewish voters. <\/p>\n
\u201cWhether you worship at shul, at a mosque, in a church, a gurdwara, a temple, or you don\u2019t worship at all, we share a belief that our city deserves leaders who lead with hope and not fear,\u201d the mayor said.<\/p>\n
He added, \u201cNo matter where we live, how old we are, what train we take in the morning, or what bagel we order, we are New Yorkers and we want the same things,\u201d including \u201ca city that belongs to all of us.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mamdani\u2019s characterization of AIPAC came just two days after five men were charged for allegedly plotting to kill government officials and others attending the Ultimate Fighting Championship event at the White House on Sunday. According to federal authorities, a search of one of the suspect\u2019s cell phone revealed that he specifically sought to attack lawmakers who received support from AIPAC.<\/p>\n
On the same day as Mamdani\u2019s remarks, Forrest Kendall Pemberton, 27, of Gainesville, Fla., was indicted by a federal grand jury for allegedly trying to carry out a mass shooting against AIPAC employees in Plantation, Fla.<\/p>\n