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Zohran Mamdani’s ‘Defund the NYPD’ posts surface as he visits slain cop Didarul Islam’s family

Zohran Mamdani said he went directly to Didarul Islam's family home after landing in New York City. The mayoral nominee was in Uganda for his wedding.

Published on: Jul 31, 2025, 08:41:23 IST
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Democratic mayoral nominee Zohran Mamdani posted about visiting the house of Didarul Islam, the NYPD cop killed by Shane Tamura in the Midtown Manhattan shooting. However, his post triggered backlash, with people mentioning his controversial “defund the police” tweet from 2020.

New York City Democratic mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani speaks about mass shooting at a midtown Manhattan office tower in New York City. (REUTERS)
New York City Democratic mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani speaks about mass shooting at a midtown Manhattan office tower in New York City. (REUTERS)

“Two days ago, an act of senseless violence took the lives of Officer Didarul Islam, Wesley LePatner, Aland Etienne, and Julia Hyman. Today, I visited Officer Islam's family and learned of his legacy. I ask you to join me in honoring the memory of these four New Yorkers,” Mamdani wrote.

Also Read: Zohran Mamdani’s tribute to Bangladeshi-origin NYPD officer killed in shooting: 'His family could...'

Midtown shooting victims:

Wesley LePatner was a Blackstone executive killed in the shooting at the Manhattan office building in New York. The other victim of the massacre was Aland Etienne, a security officer and father. The fourth person killed in the mass shooting that rocked the city was Julia Hyman, a Cornell grad who worked at Rudin Management.

Social media mocks Mamdani:

An individual wrote, “Zohran Mamdani exposed as a total fraud. Mocking cops, calling them racist, then acting like he cares? No loyalty to America. He belongs in Uganda, not leading NYC. Deport him and protect our city!” Another shared a screenshot of his 2020 post featuring the hashtag “#DefundTheNYPD.”

A third questioned, “Just think what would have happened if you would have defunded the Police like you wanted.” A fourth remarked, “And you want to defund the police?”

Also Read: Zohran Mamdani reacts to horrific Midtown Manhattan shooting that killed 4, including an NYPD officer

During the mass shooting, Mamdani was in Uganda for his wedding. He returned Wednesday and reportedly went straight to Islam's home to meet his family. He was photographed by the New York Post outside the house, holding flowers. In another picture, he was seen hugging a relative of Islam.

"I landed back in New York City this morning and went directly to the home of Officer Islam, where I met with members of his family, young and old who are heartbroken over the loss of their son, of their brother, their father, their husband, their friend. Heartbroken in a way that words cannot fully describe,” Mamdani told reporters. He added, "We spent close to an hour together, there were moments that stayed with me.”

Mamdani continued, "They welcomed me into their home. They refused to let me leave until I had breakfast with them," adding, "They are an embodiment of so much of what makes this city the one that we love."

  • Trisha Sengupta
    ABOUT THE AUTHOR
    Trisha Sengupta

    Trisha Sengupta works as Chief Content Producer at Hindustan Times with over six years of experience in the digital newsroom. Known for her ability to decode the internet’s most talked-about moments, she specialises in high-engagement storytelling that bridges the gap between viral trends and traditional journalism. Throughout her tenure, Trisha has focused on the intersection of technology, finance, and human emotion. She frequently covers personal finance and real estate struggles in hubs like Gurgaon, Bengaluru, and Hyderabad, while also documenting the unique challenges of the NRI experience. Her work often highlights the movements and philosophies of global newsmakers and personalities like Elon Musk, Mukesh Ambani, Nikhil Kamath, Dubai crown prince, and MrBeast. From reporting on Amazon or Meta layoffs and startup culture to the emergence of AI-driven platforms like Grok and xAI, she provides a grounded and empathetic perspective on the stories shaping our world. When not decoding the internet, Trisha is likely offline: lost in a book, exploring a historical ruin, or navigating the world as a solo traveler. She balances her fast-paced career with family time and a healthy dose of curiosity, currently trading her "human" sources for silicon ones as she masters AI to future-proof her storytelling.Read More