Zohran Mamdani is what big cities look like

A COUPLE OF WEEKS BEFORE HIS ELECTION VICTORY, Zohran Mamdani stood in front of a mosque in the Bronx.

- BY SADIQ KHAN

There, he gave the most personal speech of his campaign— a speech that sounded like it had been months, perhaps years, in the making. Just days before, a New York radio host had suggested Zohran would be “cheering” if another 9/11 happened on his watch. It was the high-water mark of a rising tide of anti-Muslim hatred that he had faced since the moment he declared his candidacy last year.

Zohran’s response was defiant. He spoke about his pride in his faith. He talked about the climate of fear which, like many other Muslim New Yorkers, he had faced for much of his life. The speech took courage. He could have chosen to stay quiet and spend the final fortnight of the campaign focused on his core messages. Sometimes, though, we must stand up and say enough is enough.

Sadly, this is an experience I know all too well. I've never defined myself as a Muslim politician, but rather as a politician who happens to be a Muslim. My decision to run for mayor of London was motivated by one thing alone: my determination to improve the lives of people in my city. During my first mayoral election campaign, I promised to be a mayor for all Londoners. Yet time and again, rival candidates sought to define me solely by my faith.