Holocaust Museum Condemns NYC Mayoral Candidate Mamdani for Defending Globalize Intifada Slogan

New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani has faced sharp criticism after defending the phrase "globalize the intifada," which many view as an antisemitic slogan calling for violence against Jews. Mamdani argued that the term "intifada" means "struggle" and cited the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum's use of the word in its Arabic translation of the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising, attempting to downplay the phrase's hateful connotations. However, the Holocaust Museum condemned his defense, stating that exploiting the museum and the historic uprising to sanitize the slogan is "outrageous and especially offensive to survivors," emphasizing the violent history associated with the phrase since 1987. Mamdani acknowledged the rising antisemitism in New York City and said he would focus on Jewish safety but expressed discomfort with banning certain words, criticizing such measures as reminiscent of a "Trump-style" leadership approach. His stance has drawn condemnation from Jewish leaders and political opponents, including Andrew Cuomo, who called the phrase dangerous and emphasized the need to confront antisemitism. The controversy has intensified as Mamdani continues his campaign amid concerns about his views on Israel and antisemitism.