New York Muslim and Allied Organizations Urge Congressional Delegation to Condemn Rep. Randy Fine’s Racist, Islamophobic Attack on Assemblymember Zohran Mamdani
Groups Call on Lawmakers to Confront Rising Islamophobia, Anti-Black Racism, and Anti-Palestinian Hate in Congress
(NEW YORK, N.Y., 10/16/25) – Today the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), its New York chapter (CAIR-NY), and a diverse coalition of allied mosques, community groups, and advocacy organizations representing more than one million American Muslims across the state released a joint letter calling on New York’s U.S. Congressional Delegation to confront the growing wave of Islamophobia, anti-Black racism, and anti-Palestinian hate in Congress.
READ THE LETTER: CLICK HERE
Organizations participating in the letter included: The Bangladeshi American Advocacy Group (BAAG); CAIR; CAIR-New York; Emgage Action NY Metro; Desis Rising Up & Moving (DRUM); ICNA New York; Islamic Center of Five Towns; MALIKAH; Muslim American Society of New York; Muslim Community of Nassau County (MCNC); Muslim Community Network (MCN); New York Muslim Action Network (NYMAN); Our Common Beliefs; Palestinian American Bar Association; Rockaway Islamic Center; Syosset Muslim Community; and Taxpayers Against Genocide.
The letter is addressed to all members of the New York Congressional Delegation: U.S. Senators Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand; U.S. Representatives Yvette Clarke, Adriano Espaillat, Andrew Garbarino, Laura Gillen, Dan Goldman, Hakeem Jeffries, Tim Kennedy, Nick LaLota, Nick Langworthy, George Latimer, Mike Lawler, Nicole Malliotakis, John Mannion, Gregory Meeks, Grace Meng, Joe Morelle, Jerry Nadler, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Josh Riley, Pat Ryan, Elise Stefanik, Tom Suozzi, Claudia Tenney, Paul Tonko, Ritchie Torres, and Nydia Velázquez.
CLICK HERE: READ THE LETTER
The letter urges lawmakers of both parties to demonstrate moral leadership by publicly condemning Florida Congressman Randy Fine’s racist and Islamophobic attack on New York State Assemblymember Zohran Mamdani. It further calls on the delegation to defend Muslim and Black lawmakers targeted by hate and to reject the broader revival of anti-Muslim conspiracy theories and legislation that seek to silence dissent and restrict advocacy for Palestinian human rights.
Fine’s comments, calling Assemblymember Mamdani “a Muslim terrorist,” questioning his citizenship, and referring to Uganda as a “shit**le,” are described as unmistakably Islamophobic, anti-Black, and xenophobic. The coalition says such rhetoric reflects a broader normalization of hate in Congress, where several lawmakers have used bigoted stereotypes and pushed unconstitutional measures such as the so-called “Preserving a Sharia-Free America Act.”
The organizations also warn that Islamophobic narratives are being weaponized to distract from growing international outrage over Israel’s genocide in Gaza and to suppress legitimate advocacy for Palestinian human rights.
Key Points from the Letter
Condemn Hate Speech: Urges New York’s congressional delegation to publicly condemn Rep. Fine’s racist, Islamophobic, and anti-Black remarks against Assemblymember Mamdani.
Defend Targeted Lawmakers: Calls on lawmakers to stand with Muslim and Black elected officials who face harassment or discrimination.
Reject Islamophobia in Policy: Opposes legislation and hearings that stigmatize Muslims or restrict constitutionally protected advocacy.
Affirm Moral Leadership: Reminds the delegation that New York’s Muslim community - roughly one million residents - plays a vital role in the state’s civic, economic, and public life.
“Picture the outrage if members of Congress introduced legislation to ban the practice of Catholic Canon or Jewish Halacha,” the letter states. “That is exactly what some lawmakers are now proposing against Muslims—singling out our faith’s moral and spiritual framework for exclusion.”
Co-signing groups concluded the letter by reminding and affirming that for generations, New York’s congressional delegation has served as a moral compass for the nation. “That tradition must continue. The safety, dignity, and constitutional rights of your Muslim constituents depend on it.”
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CONTACT:
Afaf Nasher, Esq., CAIR-NY Executive Director, 917-669-4006, anasher@cair.com;
CAIR-NY Communications Team, comms@ny.cair.com