Newou can listen to Fox News articles!
A Jewish student at Columbia University has opposed New York City’s democratic socialist and mayoral frontrunner Zoran Mamdani, telling Fox News Digital that Mamdani’s victory is “scary” for Jewish students in Columbia and the city.
TJ Katz, a sophomore at Ivy League School, sat down with Fox to discuss how New York City, which leads Mamdani, will affect Columbia and other universities, as the 33-year-old councillor and mayoral candidate lead the pack in the race.
“It’s scary because of my own beliefs and for my own safety on campus,” Katz told Fox. “As an individual mayor of New York, I don’t think he will suddenly change this in a 180-degree direction where I am worried that the mayor is against me.”
A New York Times report found that in 2009, NYC mayor’s hopeful Zohran Mamdani was identified as a black man in his application to the prestigious Columbia University.
Mamdani swears it’s Donald Trump’s “worst nightmare” as the president works with his rivals in the New York mayoral race
“What I’m far more worried about is that if he takes such a weak approach when denounces hatred, it will encourage others to do something terrible afterwards,” Katz added.
Mamdani, a 12 Shia Muslim born in Kampala, Uganda, won the Democratic primary in June, defeating New York Governor Andrew Cuomo among other candidates.
Just as the race stands today, Mayor Eric Adams will face off against Mamdani in the November election.
New York City is the largest population of practical Jews outside Israel. Katz then described Mamdani’s attitude towards the community as “undetectedly worried.”
The protest sticker was placed on May 7, 2025 at the door of the Butler Library on the Columbia University campus in New York City. Palestinian parental protesters held a demonstration at Butler Library on Columbia University’s campus, disrupting Final Week. (Indy Scholtens/Getty Images)
NYC mayor flips scripts with a mum tick in a scramble, bringing back anti-government rhetoric
“For him, it’s upsetting and undoubtedly worried because it doesn’t protect the Jewish population in New York, which makes up such a strong and vibrant element of the community here,” Katz continued.
Candidates like Mamdani have been approved by longtime Democratic senators like Elizabeth Warren, which has led to Jewish students and young Jewish voters across the country transitioning to Republicans as well. When Fox News reporters asked if a socialist candidate like Mamdani was the future of the Democrats, Warren replied, “You’re a bet.”
In the 2024 election, President Donald Trump saw a dramatic increase in Jewish voters shaking towards the GOP.
President Donald Trump was joined by Israeli Strategic Issues Ron Dahmer, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Vice President JD Vance during a meeting held at the White House Oval Office on February 4, 2025 in Washington DC (pictured by the Washington Post via Javin Botsford/Getty Images)
FBI investigates “terrifying anti-Semitist attacks” against Americans serving in the Israeli military
The Israel-on-Campus Union (ICC) recently held a national conference in Washington, DC. Hundreds of Jewish students from across the county gathered at a nonpartisan event as we headed for next year’s school year, expressing concerns about the safety of Jewish campuses.
A senior advisor at ICC told Fox News Digital that the conservative beliefs that Trump will be negotiating deals with top universities to mitigate volatile wars in the Middle East and combat the rise of anti-Ultimism.
The ICC advisor also said students were more active than ever when it came to standing up for pro-Israel beliefs on campus.
Anti-Israel activist Mahmoud Khalil has argued for October. The seven terrorist attacks were “desperate attempts” that Gaza should hear
Katz agreed with the notion that pro-Israeli students appear to be more outspoken on campus, saying that Jewish students take their beliefs into consideration when voting in polls.
President Donald Trump is pushing back pro-Palestinian protests on university campuses, including Columbia University. (Getty Images)
“I don’t think there is a doubt that it will exist all the time, from the most liberal young Jewish voters to the most conservatives.
Click here to get the Fox News app
“If one administration and another actually put proof in the pudding and show that they’re coming out, they’ll make sure that Jewish students on campus, Jews in all aspects of life, feel safe, and that’s definitely a place where Jews voters will shift,” Katz added.
Fox News Digital reached out to Mamdani but did not receive a response in time for publication.
Preston Mizell is an author of Fox News Digital, which covers Breaking News. Story tips can be sent to preston.mizell@fox.com and x @mizellpreston
Preston Mizell is an author of Fox News Digital, which covers Breaking News.
Source link