New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has assembled a coalition of liberals, socialists, LGBTQ advocates, and Muslim groups united by strong opposition to Israel.
A federal grand jury in the Southern District of New York is investigating Neville Singham for potential violations of the Foreign Agents Registration Act. The probe has expanded into a criminal tax investigation examining whether funds were improperly routed through nonprofits he controls, including The People’s Forum.
The People’s Forum, promoted by the mayor’s spouse, is linked to a network that supported the Global Sumud Flotilla, an attempt to breach Israel’s naval blockade of Gaza. The flotilla attracted backing from left‑leaning parties in Europe and from U.S. Marxist‑Leninist organizations.
Israeli forces intercepted the flotilla and detained hundreds of participants. In May 2026, the U.S. Treasury Department sanctioned four individuals connected to the operation, describing the organizing bodies as acting on behalf of Hamas and the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine.
The Democratic Socialists of America, of which Mamdani is a member, called on its chapters to mobilize in solidarity with the flotilla.
The People’s Forum and Code Pink organized the Nuestra América Flotilla toward Cuba in March 2026, framing it as solidarity against the U.S. oil embargo. The forum’s co‑director, Manolo De Los Santos, has participated in events with Cuban President Miguel Díaz‑Canel.
In March 2026, a “Hands Off Iran” national day of action was co‑endorsed by DSA, The People’s Forum, and Code Pink. Demonstrations in Times Square featured chants and signs linking U.S./Israeli strikes to imperialist interests and demanding an arms embargo on Israel and an end to the Gaza conflict.
The Council on American‑Islamic Relations (CAIR) has been connected to Mamdani’s campaign through the Unity and Justice Fund, a political action committee that contributed roughly $100,000 to a pro‑Mamdani PAC. CAIR states it does not make political donations as a 501(c)(3) organization.
CAIR was previously listed as an unindicted co‑conspirator in the Holy Land Foundation trial, where leaders were convicted of funneling funds to Hamas. Co‑founders of CAIR have been identified as having ties to the U.S. Muslim Brotherhood’s Palestine Committee.
