Zohran Mamdani booed at NYC police event as viral video captures crowd backlash

STATEN ISLAND, NEW YORK: New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani was met with loud boos and angry shouts at a National Night Out Against Crime event on Staten Island Tuesday, August 4 with a video of the confrontation now spreading widely across social media.

The mayor appeared at the NYPD-backed gathering alongside thousands of residents, but his brief appearance at the microphone quickly turned uncomfortable as parts of the crowd made their feelings unmistakably clear.

Mayor’s brief speech drowned out

Mamdani approached the stage as the Staten Island crowd reacted with a chorus of boos, with some attendees also telling him to leave.

Rather than attempt a lengthy speech, the mayor delivered a short greeting, wishing those gathered a “Happy Night Out Against Crime,” before stepping away from the microphone less than a minute later.

The moment might have passed as another tense political appearance, but footage from the event has given it a second life online.

Clips showing the crowd’s reaction are being shared widely across social media, drawing hundreds of thousands of views and prompting a fresh round of debate over Mamdani’s relationship with New York voters.

The reaction was particularly striking because National Night Out is intended to bring police and communities together around public safety.

Mamdani had already attended similar events in Brooklyn and Harlem earlier in the evening, where he appeared alongside NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch and praised officers for their work.

On Staten Island, however, the reception was markedly different.

The borough has long been a difficult political territory for Mamdani.

During the 2025 mayoral election, Staten Island was the only New York City borough he failed to carry, receiving roughly 23% of the vote.

Increasing public fury against Mamdani

The latest incident adds to a growing list of moments in which Mamdani has faced visible opposition from sections of the public.

Among the most prominent controversies is a campaign involving families of September 11 victims who have sought to prevent Mamdani from attending the upcoming anniversary ceremony at Ground Zero.

A petition led by a 9/11 widower argues that the day should remain focused on those who were killed and their families, rather than become a platform for the mayor.

In comments to the New York Post, kin of 9/11 victims said the opposition is not politically motivated but rooted in preserving the integrity of the 9/11 memorial.

They argued that concerns stem from Mamdani’s public record, including what he described as insufficient acknowledgment of the attacks, as well as alleged associations with individuals who have downplayed the tragedy or expressed controversial views about the events.