New York’s mayor, Zohran Mamdani, exalted the city’s legacy of immigrants on Friday in a historically laden, ideological counterpoint to a US semiquincentennial address that was expected later in the day from Donald Trump – who has sought to deport immigrants en masse throughout his second presidency.

Speaking from behind a desk at New York’s city hall that belonged to the US’s first president, George Washington, and which itself is a century older than the Resolute desk in the White House, Mamdani was surrounded by naturalized citizens like himself as he listed the waves of immigrants who shaped the city.

“Hundreds of thousands of Irish immigrants arrived with stomachs aching from a famine manufactured by imperial cruelty,” Mamdani said. “Chinese sailors settled in what is today Chinatown. Millions more traveled under the Statue of Liberty and through Ellis Island. Jewish people escaping pogroms, Italians fleeing poverty. Syrians seeking economic opportunity.

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[–] 112 points 4 months ago (16 children)

“My fellow Americans” Mamdani knows the context of this phrase. Not my fellow New Yorkers.

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  • [–] 66 points 4 months ago (13 children)

    I see comments from people all over the world who say Mamdani is their mayor, too ❤️‍🔥 Certainly hope more Americans outside of NYC can feel the same.

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  • [–] 52 points 4 months ago (12 children)

    He's turning into an amazing Mayor... Here's hoping he can carry it off. The part the conservatives are most afraid of is that his plans will work...because they will (are already to an extent) work and serve as a template for other cities and states if they do.

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  • [–] 30 points 4 months ago* (3 children)

    They talk about "mini mamdanis" like it's a bad thing lol

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  • [–] 6 points 4 months ago (7 children)

    He will also make a amazing governor

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  • [–] 0 points 4 months ago (6 children)

    I think so too...but that's a much harder fight... NY state isn't as left leaning as NYC....

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  • [–] 1 point 4 months ago (3 children)

    It’s still possible, he can still become governor

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  • [–] 2 points 4 months ago (2 children)

    He can...but he'd have to get western new York onboard...and western new York is much more conservative...

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  • [–] 7 points 4 months ago

    He held it in front of recently naturalized immigrants. One line I'll paraphrase I found interesting when he referred to them: they didn't see themselves not just as New Yorkers, but American too, just like he did some 10 years ago.

    This tells immigrants in New York that they may not be American (yet), but they are New Yorkers. Very beautiful notion.

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  • [–] 60 points 4 months ago

    Pro immigrant speech for 4th of july is way more appropriate than anything trump says ever

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  • [–] 74 points 4 months ago (5 children)

    possibly my favorite gif in the last 5 years, maybe ever

    g5vqIL5Hquh8pY6.gif

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  • [–] 30 points 4 months ago (2 children)

    My face when they say taxing billionaires will make them leave the state.

    Mfw they say the DSA is taking over the Democratic party.

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  • [–] 2 points 4 months ago (1 child)

    "Oh no! The people who aren't paying taxes are going to leave? Whatever will we do!?!"

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  • [–] 1 point 4 months ago

    Even if they aren't paying a fair or even reasonable percentage, the tiny fraction they do pay in taxes is still a massive majority of total taxes paid.

    It's the corporations gaming the system at the top to report losses on record profits and not paying taxes that is even worse. Tax codes as a whole desperately need to be overhauled.

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  • [–] 33 points 4 months ago

    I watched the whole speech. It's about 15 minutes long but really good. About the best I could have hoped for from a political America 250 speech.

    It's the best kind of patriotic speech, talking about the things that make America great (diversity and community and opportunity) and acknowledging faults past and present. And throwing shade at Trump and white nationalists.

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  • [–] 32 points 4 months ago (1 child)

    He gives me so much hope. I know better, but it still happens.

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  • [–] 24 points 4 months ago (2 children)

    I expect him to have a way bigger audience than Trump.

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  • [–] 17 points 4 months ago (1 child)

    Props for telling the truth about the Irish Famine.

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    [–] 14 points 4 months ago
    [–] 12 points 4 months ago (2 children)

    He's new in politics and he's already acting like a president. Could we see a new FDR in our lifetime? Both are New Yorkers after all.

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  • [+] -6 points 4 months ago

    This is the one issue progressives lose on by the way.

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