Khaberni - On a cold night... New York wrote a new chapter in its history when Zahran Mamdani swore in as the city's mayor, the first Muslim, and the youngest in a century.
Under a sky adorned with Palestinian flags and banners that read "Our enemy Netanyahu," tens of thousands of New Yorkers celebrated the start of a new era filled with promises of revolutionary justice and radical change.
In a historic atmosphere on the steps of Manhattan's City Hall, Mamdani placed his hand on the Holy Quran and took the oath, while Palestinian flags waved next to banners reading: "Free Palestine," amid supportive cheers from prominent figures such as actress Susan Sarandon, former presidential candidate Cynthia Nixon, and Palestinian activist Mahmoud Khalil, one of the leaders of anti-occupation protests at Columbia University.
The moment was poignant with a direct reminder of the Palestinian cause. A Palestinian descendant named Maimuna Hassan approached the cameras, holding a small cake and Palestinian flags, and declared confidently: "Do not forget, Mamdani! You promised us you would arrest Netanyahu. You promised us the liberation of Palestine!"
In his inaugural speech, Mamdani specifically addressed the Palestinians in neighborhoods like "Bay Ridge”: "You will no longer be an exception in a policy that claims inclusivity. You will tell your own story, and you will have a place in shaping the future of this city."
Born to Indian parents of Uruguayan descent, who migrated from Uganda fleeing persecution, Mamdani grew up in a modest neighborhood in Queens. Throughout his campaign, he sharply criticized Israeli occupation policies and called for an end to unconditional U.S. support for Netanyahu's government, becoming a symbol of hope for millions of Americans.
He affirmed in his speech that his era would not be of "gentle words" but of "bold and broad" policies, stating: "I was told to lower people's expectations. But I say: I will lower nothing but your expectations for the lesser. From today, we will dream big and dare to try... even if we fail."
Mamdani succeeded former Mayor Eric Adams, who left office amid corruption scandals and declining popularity, to take over one of the world's most complex cities, a city home to millions of immigrants and a living example of cultural diversity.
The celebration was not just a formal ceremony but evolved into a "popular festival" par excellence, with a DJ playing famous songs, giant screens in Times Square, and serving traditional Yemeni tea, honoring the place where Mamdani first met his wife Rama and got the idea to run for office.
Today, this young couple moves from a rented apartment in Astoria to the presidential Gracie Mansion in Upper East Side, becoming symbols of a dramatic shift in the city's path... and perhaps in the future of American politics.
Amid the rising anti-Israeli occupation rhetoric in American circles, particularly among the young, Mamdani’s rise is seen as a strong indicator that Palestine is no longer a marginal issue but has become an integral part of political and social discourse at the heart of the empire.
