Nearly 2,000 supporters of Zohran Mamdani on May 4 packed the venue Brooklyn Steel for a rally featuring the candidate, a DJ, a live musical performance and signs touting the campaign’s Democratic Socialist policy proposals

Nearly 2,000 supporters of Zohran Mamdani on May 4 packed the venue Brooklyn Steel for a rally featuring the candidate, a DJ, a live musical performance and signs touting the campaign’s Democratic Socialist policy proposals.Credit: Jeff Bachner ByMatthew Chayesmatthew.chayes@newsday.comchayesmatthewMay 22, 2025 In Brooklyn’s East Williamsburg neighborhood, at aconcert hallthat was once a steel plant, a capacity crowd of nearly 2,000 supporters ofdemocratic socialistmayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani was being handedyellow, campaign-branded bandannasbearing New York City icons: a pigeon, a MetroCard, a taxicab, a hot dog Inside: a political rally, one with a DJ anda queer Pakistani American musical performerand emceed by actor and former White House stafferKal Penn After the selfie station, but before the fully stocked cash bar, were stacks of placards bearing all-caps planks of the platform that has helped elevate Mamdani to bethe second-most popular Democratrunning to replace Eric Adams “FAST & FREE BUSES.” “CHILD CARE FOR ALL.” “FREEZE THE RENT.” “CHEAPER GROCERIES.” “A CITY WE CAN AFFORD.” Mamdani’s supporters gathered that Sunday night earlier this month — mostly 20- and 30-somethings who have canvassed the city for him — waited hours to hear an address by Mamdani, 33, a naturalized American citizen, born in Uganda to Indian parents and living in Astoria, Queens He attended the Bronx High School of Science and Bowdoin College and now represents a portion of northwest Queens in the state Assembly WHAT NEWSDAY FOUNDZohran Mamdani, a state assemblyman who’s polling secondin the upcoming primary election, is a Democratic Socialist.He wants to raise taxes on large corporationsand the richest New Yorkers to fund free public buses and child care, as well as imposing a rent freeze on regulated apartments and opening municipal grocery stores.In polls, he is double-digits behindthe front-runner, former Gov Andrew Cuomo Supporters of Zohran Mamdani — a state assemblyman and New York City mayoral candidate — hold placards with his campaign promises, including a rent freeze Nearly 2,000 rallied on May 4 for him at the East Williamsburg venue Brooklyn Steel.Credit: Jeff Bachner “Too many of us are struggling under the weight of work that takes too much but doesn’t pay enough, all while costs continue to rise, our minds chained to anxiety, our days with too little time, and our bodies with even less energy to pursue the things that bring us joy,” said Mamdani, whose campaign has been powered by social media savvy, a left-leaning platform, small-dollar donors and an embrace of his roots Get the latest breaking news as it happens By clicking Sign up, you agree to ourprivacy policy Mamdani has consistentlypolledsecond and raised millions of dollars in campaign contributions in a field dominated by establishment politicians — includingthe sitting mayor,currentandformercomptrollers,the city council speaker, and, of course,the ex-governor, Andrew M Cuomo, who has maintained a commanding, double-digit lead It’s unclear how much appetite New Yorkers have for Mamdani’s policy ideas, including paying for his programs withhigher taxeson large corporations and residents earning over $1 million;a police-supplementing Department of Community Safetywith a $1.1 billion budget; and turning the subway system’s empty storefronts and other underground vacant spaces intodrop-in hubsfor the homeless and mentally ill JC Polanco, a former political candidate and city Board of Elections president who is now aprofessorat theUniversity of Mount Saint Vincentin the Bronx, said Mamdani’s support is particularly strong among younger Democratic voters Polls of the political stances Mamdani takes bear that out — with backing far higher among younger voters than older voters, Polanco said And then there is Mamdani’s outreach on social media, particularly TikTok, where he has starred in clips articulating his policy positions, but also in others:eatinga burrito on the Q train to break the Ramadan fast, then, after a hotly debated firestorm about the propriety of eating a messy meal off a subway seat, gliblyapologizingover “#burritogate.” Source: NewsDay.com All Zim News is a central hub for all things Zimbabwean, curating news from across the country so no story is missed Alongside aggregation, our team of nationwide reporters provides real-time, on-the-ground coverage Stay informed and connected — reach us at admin@allzimnews.com. Source: Newsday_Com