NYC Mayoral Candidate Mamdani Faces Italian American Backlash Over 2020 Columbus Statue Post

New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani has sparked outrage among Italian Americans after an old 2020 tweet resurfaced showing him giving the middle finger to a Christopher Columbus statue in Astoria, accompanied by the caption "Take it down." The post, made while Mamdani was running for state office, offended a significant voting bloc comprising about 8% of the city's population, including groups like the Columbus Heritage Coalition and the Italian American Museum. Angelo Vivolo, president of the Columbus Heritage Coalition, criticized Mamdani for being disrespectful and vowed not to support him in the upcoming November election, emphasizing that offending one community offends all. Supporters of Columbus argue that he represents a key figure in Italian American heritage, while critics, including many left-wing politicians, focus on his treatment of Native Americans. Mamdani previously achieved a surprising victory in the Democratic mayoral primary by defeating former Governor Andrew Cuomo, who may run again as an Independent. The controversy adds tension to an already competitive mayoral race featuring candidates such as current Mayor Eric Adams and Republican nominee Curtis Sliwa.