Mamdani Revives Promise To Disband NYPD Terrorism Squad in Arabic-Tinged Remarks

Mayor Zohran Mamdani underscored his commitment to dissolving the New York Police Department’s anti-terrorism Strategic Response Group with a touch of Arabic on Monday.The mayor deployed a trendy phrase as he tried to reconcile his campaign promise to wind down the controversial unit that deals with terrorists and peaceful protests alike with the SRG’s continued existence almost a year into his term.“I have made that promise. I will fulfill that promise. The only question is the timeline of it,” the mayor told reporters. When pressed as to when he will make good, the mayor said: “It’ll be not in a inshallah timeline, but an actual one.” Mr. Mamdani, who called to defund the police altogether as a State Assemblymember between 2020 and 2021, campaigned on a more restrained promise to rein in the force’s Strategic Response Group, which oversees the police response to large-scale demonstrations in New York City and has faced censure for its aggressive tactics.Nine months after Mr. Mamdani took office, members of his own Democratic Socialist party including New York City co-chair Gustavo Gordillo and congressional candidate Darializa Avila Chevalier came face to face with the unit the city’s chief executive has promised to eradicate. Mr. Gordillo, Ms. Avila Chevalier and others were taken into custody for blocking a road while protesting Prime Minister of Israel Benjamin Netanyahu’s appearance at the United Nations. Mr. Mamdani underscored New Yorkers’ right to protest Mr. Netanyahu’s visit in a video message this summer in which he admitted he would not be able to arrest the Israeli head of state, another campaign promise. Mr. Mamdani did not attend the protest at Union Square on Thursday.This will not be another promise abandoned the mayor told reporters Monday, stating that he still plans to separate the police response to “terroristic threats” from its “responses to exercising first amendment rights.”“The critical point of it is just how to ensure we’re doing so while protecting New Yorkers’ rights and keeping New Yorkers safe. One of those New Yorkers is Mr. Mamdani himself. City Councilmember Chi Ossé, a Democratic Socialist, has thrice introduced a bill to remove the Strategic Response Group from First Amendment-protected activities like parades and protests, an effort that lost significant momentum after the unit responded to a chaotic attempted bombing outside Gracie Mansion in March.Mr. Ossé reintroduced the bill again shortly after the attack. Though it garnered 22 co-sponsors on the council, it has languished in committee ever since. Mr. Ossé was among those arrested by the Strategic Response Group at Thursday’s protest.Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch has declined to issue an official statement on the mayor’s call to winddown the unit, but she ribbed the mayor about his stance in her remarks at an event honoring the 100 most influential New Yorkers in April.“At the very top, of course, Mr. Mayor — congratulations on the No. 1 spot,” Ms. Tisch said, according to City & State, which developed the rankings. “Since taking office, you’ve governed by a core principle to ensure the strength of our city: Support, Reinforce and Grow, or, for short, SRG.” The police department and Mr. Ossé’s office did not immediately respond to requests for comment Monday.

Mamdani Revives Promise To Disband NYPD Terrorism Squad in Arabic-Tinged Remarks

Mamdani Revives Promise To Disband NYPD Terrorism Squad in Arabic-Tinged Remarks

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