In the lead-up to the New York City mayoral election, candidate Zohran Mamdani has made headlines for his emotional speeches addressing Islamophobia, particularly in response to controversial remarks from political opponents, including JD Vance and Andrew Cuomo. Mamdani shared personal stories about his Muslim identity and the fears faced by his family post-9/11, emphasizing the need to reject Islamophobia and to view Muslims as victims of the tragic events of that day. His opponents have criticized him, with Vance mocking his comments and Cuomo facing backlash for allegedly Islamophobic sentiments. As the election approaches, Mamdani is rallying support from Muslim and South Asian voters, condemning hate and vowing to fight for every New Yorker as he aims to foster a more inclusive environment.