The Democratic Candidate for Mayor of NYC Zohran Mamdani, on prisons and jails

Zohran Mamdani, Democratic Candidate for NYC Mayor, Questions the Purpose of Prisons: The Progressive Experiment Endangering Public Safety

In yet another example of how far the modern left has gone, Zohran Mamdani, Democratic candidate for Mayor of New York City, publicly questioned the very existence of the prison system. At a recent event —which felt more like a college book club than a serious policy proposal— Mamdani not only revealed his lack of grasp on the issue but also implicitly mocked crime victims with a flippant, condescending tone. “What are prisons for, really?” he asked out loud, while name-dropping authors and book titles that supposedly support his abolitionist stance. Still, he admitted he hasn’t actually read some of those books.

These kinds of statements are not harmless. They reflect the dangerous trend among some Democrats to prioritize ideology over reality. New York is already reeling from “reform” policies that have weakened the justice system, enabled the early release of repeat offenders, and downplayed the need to protect law-abiding citizens. Mamdani’s rhetoric doesn't just advocate closing prisons; it seeks to delegitimize the very concept of punitive justice—based on emotional and intellectual narratives that ignore the communities most affected by violence.

This postmodern ideology—which paints criminals as victims and law enforcement as systemic oppressors—has dangerously infiltrated the Democratic Party. Mamdani represents the party’s most radical faction, the same faction that has pushed for policies like “Defund the Police,” closing jails, mass prisoner releases, and replacing punishment with “re-education.” In theory, it may sound noble, but in practice, it has led to increased crime and the neglect of vulnerable citizens.

The average New Yorker—the honest worker who commutes daily, struggles to pay rent, and strives to keep their family safe—is the one who suffers the consequences of this social experiment. Families of violent crime victims do not appreciate politicians who trivialize justice or offer abstract, academic explanations written from the comfort of theoretical privilege.

The U.S. justice system, though not perfect, exists to deter, punish, and rehabilitate. Questioning its very existence through a utopian lens is not leadership—it’s negligence. Mamdani has proven he is unfit to govern a city as complex as New York. His political vision protects criminals, not citizens.

At a time when Americans demand more security, order, and accountability, voters must stay vigilant against this type of rhetoric that promises transformation but delivers chaos. New York doesn’t need more theory. It needs realism, law, order, and justice for victims.

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