Zohran Mamdani Crime Transition Adviser Previously Made Controversial Remarks About Protests
TAMIKA MALLORY, One of Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s transition advisers on crime is facing renewed scrutiny after past remarks she made during a 2020 protest resurfaced, according to newly circulated footage.
Mallory, who was selected as one of more than two dozen New Yorkers to serve on the mayoral transition’s Committee on Community Safety, delivered the comments during a rally in Minneapolis following the murder of George Floyd.
In the recording, Mallory addressed criticism of property damage during protests, saying she did not believe demonstrators should be blamed for broader societal issues. She stated that systemic actions by the U.S. government and institutions had caused harm to Black communities and argued that responsibility should not be placed on protesters.
“I don’t give a damn if they burn down Target,” Mallory said during the speech, adding that corporations and institutions should stand alongside protesters in calls for justice.
She also rejected criticism of looting during demonstrations, asserting that historical actions by the United States against Black Americans and Native Americans amounted to exploitation. Mallory further claimed that violence seen during protests was rooted in behaviors historically carried out by those in power.
The remarks were delivered during a highly emotional period marked by nationwide protests and demonstrations in response to Floyd’s death. The footage has resurfaced as Mallory’s role on the crime-related transition committee has drawn attention.
Neither Mayor Mamdani’s office nor Mallory has publicly commented on the resurfaced footage as of the latest reports.
