Guidance for Journalists: Covering Zohran Mamdani Responsibly

To News Editors and Journalists,

This advisory addresses ongoing media coverage of New York State Assemblymember and Democratic nominee for New York City Mayor, Zohran Mamdani. His historic candidacy-as the potential first Muslim and South Asian mayor of New York City-has triggered a wave of vitriolic attacks marked by Islamophobia, anti-Palestinian racism, and red-baiting.

Justice For All urges all media outlets to uphold the highest standards of accuracy, fairness, and accountability in their coverage of Mamdani, particularly around issues of race, religion, immigration, and his principled support for Palestinian rights.

Recommendations for Ethical and Responsible Coverage

Lead with policies, not fear-driven labels.
– Define Mamdani by his public service, legislative record, and campaign platform, not through speculative ideology or inflammatory labels.

Expose disinformation.
– Do not amplify baseless claims linking Mamdani’s identity or beliefs to extremism, illegality, or terrorism. These are rooted in anti-Muslim and racist tropes.

Center marginalized voices.
– Include the perspectives of Palestinian, Muslim, and working-class New Yorkers who are often erased in political discourse.

Frame repression clearly.
– Threats to arrest, deport, or delegitimize Mamdani are not routine politics, they are assaults on democratic rights and civil liberties. Coverage should reflect the seriousness of these threats.

Contextualize Mamdani’s movement.
– He is part of a broader wave of multiracial, grassroots, justice-oriented leadership that reflects real shifts in American political engagement. He is not an outlier or fringe anomaly.

Key Issues to Address in Your Coverage/Reporting:

1. Deconstruct Harmful Narratives Around Palestinian Advocacy

• Avoid conflating anti-Zionism with antisemitism or violence. This false equivalence suppresses legitimate political speech and delegitimizes Palestinian voices.
• Instead, frame Mamdani’s advocacy as part of a principled commitment to international law, human rights, and anti-colonial solidarity.

2. Challenge Islamophobic and Racialized Attacks on Citizenship and Legitimacy

• Ethical journalism must challenge racist dog-whistles and avoid amplifying baseless claims that “a lot of people are saying” he’s in the U.S. illegally.
• Refrain from exoticizing Mamdani’s background. His Ugandan-Indian Muslim heritage should not be framed as evidence of “foreignness” or suspect allegiance.

3. Reject Islamophobic and Racialized Attacks on Legitimacy

• Do not traffic in dog-whistle claims about Mamdani’s citizenship, loyalty, or heritage.
  His Ugandan-Indian Muslim background should not be exoticized especially in a diverse city like New York or framed as a source of suspicion. Such portrayals fuel xenophobia and erode public trust in pluralistic democracy.

Clarify Misrepresentations of Democratic Socialism

Associating Mamdani with communism as a smear tactic reflects Cold War-era red-baiting and misleads readers.
Reporters should describe his policies factually: on housing, ICE cooperation, labor, and racial justice – not through ideological caricature.

Center the Communities that Built His Movement

Mamdani’s support is rooted in multiracial, interfaith coalitions-Muslim, Arab, South Asian, Black, Latino, and Jewish New Yorkers who seek a city that centers dignity, equity, and human rights.
Balance requires hearing from these communities, not only establishment critics.

Name State Violence and Political Repression

Efforts to arrest or silence Mamdani for opposing ICE raids or for his political and religious identity must be understood as part of a pattern of targeting racialized and dissenting leaders.
Journalists should highlight the abuse of executive power, not mask it as partisan bickering.

Interrogate Power, Not Just “Differences”

Coverage must move beyond surface-level “policy debates” and ask: Who feels threatened by Mamdani’s rise and why?
His opposition stems not merely from political disagreement, but from entrenched systems of power: white supremacy, Zionism, and corporate profiteering, resisting redistributive, anti-colonial change.

The Media’s Role in Defending Democracy

Coverage of Zohran Mamdani is not just about one candidate, it’s about what kind of political participation is seen as legitimate in America today. Mischaracterizing his positions or background doesn’t just harm him; it endangers the safety and civic participation of entire communities.

We call on newsrooms to exercise integrity and care in their coverage. Responsible journalism can protect democracy. Irresponsible framing can endanger it.

For interviews, fact-checking support, or further guidance, please contact media ethics coalitions and justice advocacy organizations committed to upholding press standards and human rights.

Media Contact:

Walaa Katoue

media@justiceforall.org

Justice For All

www.justiceforall.org