‘This is a country that defeated the USSR, unfortunately,’ streamer Hasan Piker said alongside AOC, Jamaal Bowman, and Mehdi Hasan at Mamdani’s victory party
Zohran Mamdani’s election victory has emboldened far-left radicals like streamer Hasan Piker and former New York Rep. and “Squad” member Jamaal Bowman, who declared that America is at “the heart of the imperial war” and that “socialism is not a dirty word anymore.”
“We are in the heart of the imperial war,” Piker, who has denied Hamas’s atrocities against Israel, said. “This is a country that defeated the USSR, unfortunately.”
“Everyday Americans, in spite of their lack of class consciousness, are finally arriving at the conclusion that perhaps there is an alternative out there,” he added. “There is an alternative that focuses on them as opposed to the interests of the billionaires and millionaires.”
After Mamdani won his bid for New York City mayor Tuesday night, the socialist delivered a victory speech with an aggressive posture—a marked shift from his attitude during his campaign. CNN anchor Van Jones said Mamdani’s “tone was sharp,” “almost yelling.”
“I felt like there was a little bit of a character switch here where the warm, open, embracing guy that’s close to working people was not on stage tonight, and there was some other voice on stage,” Jones said.
Mamdani’s tone shift seemed to empower his fellow anti-Israel radicals. On Zeteo, Piker, who once said “America deserved 9/11,” and Bowman, Mamdani’s rumored pick to lead New York City schools, were jubilant, wrapping their arms around each other and smiling broadly. When they saw Mahmoud Khalil, a leader of the anti-Semitic protests that rocked Columbia University, they cheered, invited him on camera, and hugged him.
Zeteo host Mehdi Hasan, playfully hanging on Piker’s shoulder, asked the streamer, “How do you feel about a socialist mayor?”
“I feel electric. I feel amazing,” Piker said as Bowman nodded along. “Being uncompromising in your values, whether it be about touching that third rail and speaking out about Israel or primarily focusing on affordability in your campaign strategy, it turns out, is very effective.”
Bowman—who lost a primary bid after calling his district “segregated,” citing “certain places where the Jews live and concentrate,” and pushing other anti-Semitic sentiments—joined in Piker’s excitement.
“Socialism is not a dirty word anymore,” he said. “We’re taking on all right-wing fake MAGA tough guys. Hasan and Jamaal, coming to your town. Let’s get on the bench press.”
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D., N.Y.), meanwhile, urged Democrats to unite to “fight for” the future. “We have a future to fight for, and we’re either going to do that together, or you’re going to be left behind,” she said.
When New York City public advocate and self-described democratic socialist Jumaane Williams joined the celebration, Bowman greeted him with a bear hug. In 2017, Williams defended Linda Sarsour, a notorious anti-Semite, against “alt-right” outrage, as well as Rasmea Odeh, a terrorist who carried out multiple bombings that killed two Israeli civilians and injured nine more.
“We shook up the world!” Williams shouted Tuesday night.
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