ADL flags anti-Zionist ties among Mamdani transition appointees
The Anti‑Defamation League said its review found that over 80 of Mayor‑elect Zohran Mamdani’s more than 400 transition and administrative appointees—at least 20%—have ties to groups it characterizes as anti‑Zionist or have made anti‑Israel statements, citing links to Students for Justice in Palestine, Jewish Voice for Peace, Within Our Lifetime and, in some cases, connections to Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan, and highlighting specific posts and actions it views as hostile to Israel and Jews. The ADL’s findings come as Mamdani’s team faces scrutiny over other controversies, including the resignation of appointments director Catherine Almonte Da Costa after resurfaced antisemitic social‑media posts and backlash over the appointment of Mysonne Linen, a convicted robber, to public safety transition committees — which Mamdani defended as part of an inclusive transition process.
📌 Key Facts
- The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) released a report saying more than 80 of Mayor‑elect Zohran Mamdani’s more than 400 transition and administrative appointees — roughly 20% — have ties to groups the ADL characterizes as anti‑Zionist or have documented histories of making anti‑Israel statements.
- The ADL identified links between appointees and groups including Students for Justice in Palestine, Jewish Voice for Peace, and Within Our Lifetime, and said at least four appointees have ties to Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan.
- The report cites specific past statements and actions by some appointees — e.g., posts saying “Resistance are justified when people are occupied” after Oct. 7, calling “Zionism is racism,” describing “Zionism’s genocidal ideology,” and posting that “Zionists are worse than … Nazis” — and highlights examples such as an appointee photographed at an encampment in front of a banner with an inverted red triangle and “LONG LIVE THE RESISTANCE,” and another who was arrested during an NYU campus encampment.
- The ADL also noted at least 25 appointees have publicly expressed support for the Jewish community, but said it remains concerned about the overall composition of Mamdani’s team.
- Zohran Mamdani appointed rapper‑turned‑activist Mysonne Linen to his transition team on the Public Safety and Criminal Justice committees; the appointment was announced via an Instagram post by Until Freedom, where Linen is a leader.
- Background on Linen: he was convicted in the late 1990s in two Bronx taxi‑robbery cases, served seven years, has maintained he was falsely accused, and has since been active in anti‑violence and civic initiatives; his appointment drew backlash from groups including Jews Fight Back.
- Mamdani defended his selections, saying he wants to incorporate the experiences and analysis of “all New Yorkers” and detailed a transition structure of more than 400 New Yorkers serving on 17 committees.
- Catherine Almonte Da Costa, Mamdani’s newly named director of appointments, resigned after resurfaced antisemitic social‑media posts from 2011–2012 were publicly flagged by the ADL (examples included phrases like “money hungry Jews,” “rich Jewish peeps” and calling a train “the Jew train”); she deleted her X account, apologized saying the posts are not reflective of who she is and noted she is the mother of Jewish children, and Mamdani accepted her resignation. Additional resurfaced posts reportedly included derogatory references to the NYPD.
📊 Relevant Data
The Muslim population in New York City is estimated to have grown to over 1 million in 2025, potentially surpassing the Jewish population of approximately 960,000, representing a significant demographic shift.
New York City May Now Have More Muslims Than Jews — The Editors
In 2025, a poll found that 39% of New Yorkers sympathize more with Palestinians compared to 30% with Israel in the Gaza conflict, indicating a shift in public opinion.
Gaza War Turns New Yorkers Against Israel, With Mayor's Race as Proxy — The New York Times
Orthodox Jews, particularly the Haredi subgroup, are the most affected by antisemitic experiences in New York City, based on a 2025 follow-up study.
Antisemitism | Jewish Community Study of New York — UJA-Federation of New York
The American Muslim population in 2025 is composed of approximately one-third Black, one-third South Asian, and one-quarter Arab descent, with the remainder from other backgrounds.
American Muslims 2025: A Brief Profile — Justice For All
Since October 7, 2023, over 10,000 antisemitic incidents have been recorded in the United States, marking a significant increase and providing national context for local concerns in NYC.
Over 10,000 Antisemitic Incidents Recorded in the U.S. since Oct. 7, 2023, According to ADL — Anti-Defamation League
📊 Analysis & Commentary (11)
"A critical City Journal commentary warns that Mamdani’s appointment of Tamika Mallory and like‑minded activists to his safety advisory team signals an anti‑police influence that risks undermining effective policing and coherent public‑safety policy, even as Mamdani offers mixed signals by retaining the NYPD commissioner."
"The City Journal piece critiques Mayor‑elect Zohran Mamdani’s turn to activist NGOs and figures (exemplified by naming Tamika Mallory to his safety team) as a risky governing model that privileges movement influence over professional, accountable public‑safety institutions."
"A critical City Journal column argues that Mayor‑elect Zohran Mamdani’s selection of Mysonne Linen and Tamika Mallory for his public‑safety transition team signals an anti‑police, activist‑first approach that risks undermining policing, officer morale, and public safety in New York."
"A Fox News opinion piece uses an Uber‑ride anecdote to argue that antisemitic and theocratic views are becoming normalized in New York—blaming Mayor‑elect Zohran Mamdani’s rhetoric—and contrasts that with examples from Israel to urge firmer political repudiation of extremism to protect Jewish communities."
"The WSJ commentary uses Zohran Mamdani’s mayoral victory as a symbol of a rising national progressive insurgency—fueled by Bernie Sanders and outside money—that the author argues is imperiling Democratic prospects by forcing retirements and primarying incumbents, while national party institutions stand largely passive."
"A critical City Journal take arguing that Mamdani’s appointment of activist figures to his public‑safety transition team (e.g., Mysonne Linen, Tamika Mallory) reveals an extreme, risky approach that threatens pragmatic governance, public‑safety cooperation, and broad political support."
"A critical City Journal commentary argues that Mayor‑elect Zohran Mamdani’s anti‑ICE video and appointment of controversial activists signal performative, destabilizing politics that court confrontation with federal authorities and imperil public‑safety governance."
"A City Journal critique arguing that Zohran Mamdani’s activist‑focused transition — including controversial appointments and a resignation over antisemitic social posts — reflects an identity‑first, poorly vetted approach that risks governance failures and political backlash unless paired with stronger standards and coalition‑building."
"A skeptical City Journal critique arguing that Zohran Mamdani’s talk of a rent freeze is politically tempting but legally, administratively and economically fraught, and that he has few good, durable options absent broader supply‑side and coalition building."
"A City Journal podcast highlights episode that includes a segment analyzing Zohran Mamdani’s NYC mayoral victory — connecting to reporting on controversies around his transition appointees — presented as a curated, commentary‑style compilation with a skeptical, conservative tilt."
📰 Sources (5)
- The Anti-Defamation League released a report finding that over 80 of more than 400 transition and administrative appointees of NYC Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani—at least 20%—have ties to groups it characterizes as anti-Zionist or have documented histories of making anti-Israel statements.
- ADL says appointees have links to groups including Students for Justice in Palestine, Jewish Voice for Peace, and Within Our Lifetime, and at least four have ties to Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan.
- The report cites specific examples of appointees’ past statements, such as 'Resistance are justified when people are occupied' hours after the Oct. 7 attacks, calling 'Zionism is racism,' describing 'Zionism’s genocidal ideology,' and posting that 'Zionists are worse than … Nazis.'
- ADL notes one appointee allegedly posed at an encampment in front of a banner with an inverted red triangle (associated with Hamas) and 'LONG LIVE THE RESISTANCE,' and highlights another appointee arrested during an NYU campus encampment who later claimed no hate speech was present, which ADL disputes.
- The organization also stresses that at least 25 appointees have publicly expressed support for the Jewish community and names several, while nonetheless concluding it remains concerned about Mamdani’s team overall.
- Catherine Almonte Da Costa, newly named director of appointments in Mayor‑elect Zohran Mamdani’s administration, resigned Thursday after antisemitic social‑media posts from 2011–2012 resurfaced.
- The Anti‑Defamation League of New York/New Jersey publicly flagged her posts, which included phrases like 'money hungry Jews,' 'rich Jewish peeps,' and calling a Far Rockaway train 'the Jew train,' and demanded an explanation from both Da Costa and Mamdani.
- Da Costa deleted her X account and issued a statement to the Judge Street Journal apologizing, calling the posts not reflective of who she is and noting she is the mother of Jewish children, while Mamdani accepted her resignation.
- Additional resurfaced posts included derogatory references to 'NYPD piggies,' according to the New York Post.
- Da Costa previously worked in former Mayor Bill de Blasio’s administration on the city’s census team and had been slated to 'bring top talent' into the Mamdani administration.
- Mamdani publicly explained why he appointed Mysonne Linen, saying he wants to incorporate the experiences and analysis of 'all New Yorkers' to 'build a city for each and every person.'
- He detailed the transition structure: more than 400 New Yorkers serving on 17 committees.
- Background specifics on Linen’s convictions and sentence were reiterated: 1999 Bronx convictions in two taxi-robbery cases; he served seven years; both cab drivers testified identifying him; Linen maintained he was falsely accused.
- Zohran Mamdani appointed rapper-turned-activist Mysonne Linen to his transition team on the Public Safety and Criminal Justice committees.
- The appointment was announced Nov. 26 via an Instagram post by Until Freedom, where Linen is a leader.
- Background: Linen was convicted in the late 1990s of two armed robberies of taxi drivers and served seven years; he has since been active in anti-violence and civic initiatives.
- Backlash noted from group Jews Fight Back, which criticized the appointment on X.