Zohran Mamdani’s old tweet showing middle finger to Columbus statue sparks new row

As the race for New York City’s mayor heats up, Democratic Party frontrunner Zohran Mamdani’s old tweets have come back to haunt him. First, a 2015 tweet questioning the FBI’s surveillance tactics on Anwar al-Awlaki — a US-born cleric later linked to the terror outfit al-Qaida and alleged to have ties to the 9/11 attackers — enraged several New Yorkers still reeling from the tragedy.

Now, a 2020 tweet in which he is seen showing the middle finger to a statue of Christopher Columbus has infuriated the Italian-American voter base, which makes up 8 percent of New York City’s electorate, The New York Post reported. For context, many Italian Americans view the 15th century explorer Columbus as a symbol of their cultural heritage.

“Take it down,” wrote Mamdani, while showing a middle finger at the statue in New York City’s Astoria neighbourhood.

“He is being disrespectful to the Italian American community…If you offend one community, you offend all communities,” Columbus Heritage Coalition president Angelo Vivolo told The New York Post.

Italian American Museum founder and president Joseph Scelsa lashed out at Mamdani and told The New York Post, “To eliminate such a large population of people would be a travesty.”

“It’s not inclusive. It’s exclusionary…Who’s to say who is a hero and who is not a hero? Columbus is our hero,” he further told The New York Post.

A few days back, another of Mamdani’s old tweets on Anwar al-Awlaki enraged 9/11 victims’ families and US anti-terror officials, who viewed his remarks as insensitive.

Retired Long Island Representative Peter King said holding the US responsible for al-Awlaki’s deeds is like blaming the Jews for Hitler.

“To blame the United States for al-Awlaki is like blaming the Jews for Hitler,” King, who chaired the House Homeland Security Committee and served on the Intelligence Committee that received confidential briefings on the slain terrorist, was quoted as saying by the New York Post.

“Mamdani is making excuses and rationalising al-Awlaki joining al-Qaida,” King added.

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