By Guy Page
Bernie Sanders and New York City Democrat Socialist Zoram Mamdani exchanged mutual compliments at a rally in Queens, NYC yesterday.
For Sanders, Forrest Hills Stadium was another stop – albeit on a big stage – in his effort to promote socialist candidates nationwide. “From California to Maine, we can defeat the oligarchy,” he said. He recalled how – as a socialist outsider facing a stagnant Democratic incumbent and leadership and a Republican challenger – he won the Burlington election in 1981 (like 2025, an off-year for elections) by 10 votes after a recount. He urged Mamdami’s followers to take nothing for granted before November 4.
The Maine reference reflects Sanders continued support for Maine Democrat Socialist Graham Platner, who has been pilloried for making racist statements about blacks online, has a Nazi-like deaths’ head tattoo, and has a history of providing firearms training to Antifa activists: Bernie-backed candidate gives firearms training to Antifa (VDC, October 24).
For Momdani, it was an opportunity to recognize the NYC-born socialist who was the surprise winner of a Northeastern city 44 years ago.
“I stand before you tonight only because the senator dared to stand alone for so long. I speak the language of democratic socialism only because he spoke it first,” the 33 year old state legislator and current front-runner said. “And when I ran for state assembly almost six years ago to the day, it was at Bernie’s rally in Queensbridge Park where I led our first canvas.”
Listen to the audio clip of Momdani here:
Sanders and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez joined Mamdani at the “New York is Not for Sale” rally in Queens, energizing supporters on their campaign issues of affordability, immigrant rights, and progressive reforms ahead of the November 4 election.
Sanders was the last speaker before Mamdani took the stage. He was introduced by Rep. Sandra Occaso-Cortez as a mentor. His speech in the birthplace borough of President Donald Trump showed he’s taking the big view of the November 4 election, beyond New York City.
Listen to the audio clip here.
“That is what this election is about. And that is why Donald Trump is paying attention to this election. Ordinary people, working class people, black and white and Latino, Asian, gay and straight coming together to take on the oligarchy,” Sanders said. “That is Trump’s worst nightmare. And what Trump and his oligarchic friends know is that if New Yorkers come together and elect Zoran, we can do that. From California to Maine, we can defeat the oligarchy.
And what the oligarchs fear, what they fear is the people will start understanding that this country belongs to us, not them.
“And all over the country when people are inspired, when people are standing up to power, they will ask some very simple questions.
“Why are we in the United States, the only major country not to guarantee health care to all as a human right?
“Why aren’t we paying our teachers the salaries they deserve?. So that we can have the best public educational system in the world. Why aren’t we doing what used to exist in New York and all over this country 70 years ago? Make public colleges and universities tuition free.
“Why in the richest country on earth aren’t we ending homelessness and building 5 million units of low income and affordable housing?”
In California, Gov. Gavin Newsom plans to spend more than $1 billion on ‘homeless highrises’ to accommodate the growing homeless population. Like Sanders and the Vermont Legislature, he’s an adherent to the Housing First policy that providing more housing is the main solution to the ‘homeless problem.’