Take it from the voter herself: Zohran Mamdani is a mensch.
Activist and professor Rosalind Petchesky defends NYC Mayor Mamdani against Islamophobic and fearmongering attacks through her personal experience serving on his campaign and facing arrest with him for protesting in front of Senator Chuck Schumer’s home. Writing how he treated her “like his own Nani,” Petchesky highlights Mamdani’s empathy, personal care, and commitment to justice that knows no borders.
Petchesky addresses critics who have called Mamdani antisemitic, arguing that he is “decidedly NOT antisemitic” and will be “a compassionate and caring friend to Jews and all ethnic groups throughout the city”.
She describes first meeting Mamdani in May 2023 when she testified in support of his Not on Our Dime Act, which sought to prohibit New York-based non-profits from supporting Israeli settlements and related activities.
Petchesky recounts being arrested alongside Mamdani at an October 2023 protest outside Senator Chuck Schumer’s home calling for a ceasefire in Gaza, noting how he helped ensure her safety during the action.
The article emphasizes Mamdani’s platform of affordability for New York City and argues that his stance on Palestine has become an asset rather than a liability, citing polling data showing strong support among New York Democrats for positions critical of Israeli policies.
Written prior to Mamdani’s electoral win, this personal essay is a powerful endorsement of a rising Democratic star.
Read her powerful article here.
About Rosalind Petchesky
Rosalind Petchesky is an 83-year-old professor emerita of political science at Hunter College and the Graduate Center, CUNY. She is a recognized scholar in reproductive rights and feminist theory, having received a MacArthur Fellowship in 1995. She is an activist in the Palestine solidarity movement, a member-leader of Jewish Voice for Peace-NYC, and co-editor/author of the book ‘A Land With a People: Palestinians and Jews Confront Zionism’.
About the Article
The article, published November 4, 2025 on Zeteo, is a personal endorsement of Zohran Mamdani’s candidacy for New York City mayor.
