“I urge all New Yorkers who have not cast their ballots during early voting to vote for Mamdani on Election Day,” Lawrence Hamm, who is chairman of the Newark based People’s Organization For Progress (POP), stated.
POP is an all volunteer grassroots organization that works for racial, social, economic justice and peace. It was founded in 1982 and has been active around a variety of local, state, regional, national and international issues affecting black people and urban communities.
“Although I am not a New York City resident I believe that the outcome of the election will have an impact on people in New Jersey and the rest of the nation,” Hamm said.
“Mamdani’s election will be yet another powerful positive political signal that people are tired of the status quo. It will demonstrate that they want new leadership, and new policies that will bring about real improvement in the quality of their lives,” he said.
“And a victory for Mamdani will also be a defeat for President Trump and his racist and fascist MAGA movement. Trump
has not only opposed Mamdani but has threatened to withhold federal funds from the city if he is elected which would be illegal,” he said.
Trump has endorsed Mamdani’s opponent former Governor Andrew Cuomo, a Democrat who Mamdani defeated in the Democratic primary, rather than Curtis Sliwa the winner of the Republican primary.
“A victory for Andrew Cuomo will be a victory for Donald Trump. And you can be sure that Trump will claim that victory as his own, and that Andrew Cuomo will be beholden to him,” he said.
“I make this endorsement freely. My statement is unsolicited. Neither the candidate nor any of his staff have asked for this endorsement,” he said.
Hamm has also made endorsements in the gubernatorial race in his home state of New Jersey. Last week he issued a statement on behalf of the People’s Organization For Progress which had voted to endorse Congresswoman Mikie Sherrill for governor and Dr Dale Caldwell for Lieutenant Governor.
A former U.S. Senate candidate, Hamm also issued a personal endorsement of Sherrill and Caldwell urging those who had voted for him in last year’s Democratic primary to cast their ballots for them on Election Day.
“Don’t let the scare tactics of Cuomo and others keep you from voting for Mamdani who is the candidate in this race that will fight the hardest for working people, poor folks and the middle class,” Hamm said.
“They try to use the fact that he is a democratic socialist to make you afraid to vote for him.
“Remember, some of our greatest freedom fighters including Eugene V. Deb’s, Dr Martin Luther King Jr, Malcolm X, Paul Robeson, W.E.B. Dubois, A. Philip Randolph, Amiri Baraka, Huey P. Newton and others were democratic socialists or held anti-capitalist or pro-socialist views.
“Mamdani would not be the first socialist or radical to hold elected office in New York City. Mayor David Dinkins was a democratic socialist and a member of Democratic Socialists of America (DSA), and there have been others,” he said.
“They have tried to accuse Mamdani of antisemitism. Just because you are critical of unjust or racist policies of the Israeli government that does not make you antisemitic. Mamdani has many Jewish supporters,” he said.
“It is sad to say that some of Mamdani’s critics have tried to turn voters against him because of his religion. They say that people shouldn’t vote for him because he is a Muslim.
“That is disgusting and disgraceful. No one’s religion should prevent them from holding office. Islamophobia should have no place in our elections or our society.” he said.
“The elections in New Jersey, New York City, and Virginia are bellwethers for the upcoming midterm elections in 2026. Massive voter turnout and Democratic victories in all three would be major blows to Trump and his racist and fascist MAGA movement,” he said.
For more information contact the People’s Organization For Progress at (973) 801-0001.
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