In 2023, New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani signed a letter urging a venue to cancel a planned event featuring Charlie Kirk, calling him a “far-right extremist.” The venue, located in Long Island City, was criticized for agreeing to host the event, which also included speakers from Turning Point USA and Blexit — groups Mamdani and other local Democrats labeled as promoting “transphobic, bigoted views.”
The letter described hosting the event at the Triplex LIC/Tammany House as antithetical to values of diversity and inclusivity upheld by community members in Queens. Although another nearby venue had canceled after community backlash, the LIC event ultimately took place as scheduled.
Mamdani has recently faced questions about that episode amid his campaign for mayor, with some critics arguing his stance on canceling Kirk clashes with broader principles of free speech. In response to the assassination of Kirk, Mamdani condemned the violence and stated that political violence must have no place in the country.