Muslim NY mayoral candidate reports receiving threats from anonymous caller
Jewish lawmaker says he was run off the road by man with Palestinian flag a day earlier; incidents add to growing concern in US over rise in antisemitic, anti-Muslim hate post-Oct. 7
The New York City Police Department said Friday its hate crime unit was probing anti-Muslim threats against mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani.
In another incident, the day prior, US Representative Max Miller of Ohio said he was “run off the road” by a driver with a Palestinian flag.
These marked the latest US developments to raise concerns about the rise in hate against Americans of Muslim, Arab, Jewish, Israeli and Palestinian heritage since the outbreak of Israel’s war in Gaza in October 2023.
An NYPD spokesperson said police received reports that on Wednesday at 9:45 a.m., Mamdani, a Democratic state assembly member and mayoral candidate, reported that he “received four phone voicemails, on various dates, making threatening anti-Muslim statements by an unknown individual.”
There have not been any arrests so far, and the investigation remains ongoing, the NYPD added.
The New York Daily News reported that a man threatened to blow up Mamdani’s car.
Mamdani’s office came out with a statement Thursday addressing the anonymous calls, which come just days before the New York City Democratic mayoral primaries.
“While Zohran does not own a car, the violent and specific language of what appears to be a repeat caller is alarming and we are taking every precaution,” the campaign said, per US outlets. “While this is a sad reality, it is not surprising after millions of dollars have been spent on dehumanizing, Islamophobic rhetoric designed to stoke division and hate.”
Separately, Republican US Representative Max Miller from Ohio said on X he was “run off the road” in the city of Rocky River on Thursday while he and his family were threatened by a person with a Palestinian flag. He said he had filed a police report.
“Today I was run off the road in Rocky River, and the life of me and my family was threatened by a person who proceeded to show a Palestinian flag before taking off,” said Miller, who is Jewish and pro-Israel.
He labeled the incident, which was also condemned by top congressional Democrats, as antisemitic.
“We will not hide, and I will continue to fight against antisemitism, Islamophobia and all other forms of hatred,” said Miller in a video posted to his account.
“You have an issue? Take it to our office. You want to run me off the road? That’s a different story. We know who you are, young man, and the police are going to be paying you a visit,” he continued.
The Times of Israel Community.