Democratic mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani faced a hostile reception in Staten Island on Wednesday during a stop on his five-borough, weeklong anti-President Trump tour, as reported by The New York Post.
The event, held at Istanbul Bay Authentic Mediterranean Restaurant in Stapleton Heights, drew loud protests led by local artist and activist Scott LoBaido.
New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani went to Trump country and received a Staten Island welcome pic.twitter.com/8dz17v1Oxc
— Music is Life (@ArtOfMusic_) August 14, 2025
LoBaido said he was arrested after attempting to confront Mamdani inside the venue and continuing the demonstration outside with a bullhorn. According to LoBaido, he was issued three summonses for disorderly conduct, a sound violation, and foul language.
“I’ll have to plead guilty on that one,” LoBaido said of the foul language citation. “Foul language is my middle name.”
Protesters, many wearing red, white, and blue, carried “Curtis Sliwa for Mayor” signs and voiced their support for the GOP nominee. They surrounded Mamdani as he arrived, shouting obscenities and telling him to “go home.”
LoBaido called Mamdani “Mamdandy” and accused him of hating both Staten Island and the United States.
Mamdani, a Democratic socialist, appeared unfazed. He smiled and waved as the crowd chanted. In his remarks, he criticized President Trump’s immigration enforcement policies, pledging to maintain New York City’s sanctuary city status.
Let’s Give A Nice Warm Staten Island Welcome to dear Comrad Mamdani
Disclaimer: no hard feelings to the great men and women of the NYPD who were just doing their job. pic.twitter.com/T2PM8xmNXA
— Scott LoBaido (@ScottLoBaido) August 13, 2025
“We will continue to uphold that status and ensure that we do not allow ICE agents entry into New York City properties — be they schools, hospitals, or even the properties of New York City contractors — unless they can provide a judicial warrant signed by a judge,” Mamdani said.
He made only a brief reference to his recent feud with rival mayoral contender Andrew Cuomo, focusing instead on immigration policy.
Mamdani argued that the Trump administration’s approach threatens the “fabric” of New York City and reiterated his commitment to limiting ICE operations in the city.
When asked why he chose to campaign in heavily Republican Staten Island, Mamdani said his goal was to visit all areas of the city and speak with voters across the political spectrum.
“I will not let it dissuade me from continuing to come to Staten Island — no matter what politics they have, because I know just as there are Republicans who feel that way, there are Republicans who are sincere in their questions,” he said.
Protesters outside included a 65-year-old Staten Island resident who had traveled from Florida and skipped work to attend.
Wearing an “Alligator Alcatraz” T-shirt, he told reporters he considered the protest a priority. “I told them it was a family emergency, this is a little bigger than that,” he said.
The Staten Island stop was part of Mamdani’s continued campaign effort despite vocal opposition in areas with strong support for President Trump.
Why is this even an issue? Socialism has failed everywhere it has been tried.
I have to agree with the protestors. He doesn’t belong in america and is of course filthy rich and pushing communist Authoritarianism on NYC which is full of impoverished 3rd world immigrants. He should go back to Uganda were he was born and push for more African communism which has destroyed Africa. He has no business here. Just another 4th world GRIFTER like theKenyan born Obama.
Issued a summons for foul language? Just doing their jobs? At some point the law enforcement has to go back to political neutrality. Try going to an ICE raid and find a protester not using foul language aimed at law enforcement.
That arrogant, Anti American punk should indeed go back where he came from. That creep represents everything that freedom loving Americans abhor.
He is Exactly what the US Constitution was written for. To stop government from becoming all powerful.
This man is truly mentally insane. I can’t believe the people in New York aren’t smart enough to see this.
I would like to have heard more from the decent New Yorkers. They are a rare find in that state. Interesting to note that the police made arrests and wrote citations. Why didn’t Mamdani stop them from interfering with a peaceful protest? Why wasn’t he supporting the public demonstration? His lack of integrity and his surfeit of hypocrisy would be beautiful if it weren’t such a disgrace.
He is not a democrat socialist, whatever that is, he’s an out and out communist muslim that wants America and the west destroyed.
He crossed the line into being a communist when he stated “the ultimate goal has to be controlling the means of production”. Translated-government takeover of anything that produces a product you may use.