NYC Mayor Mamdani Praises 7-Term Vito Marcantonio, Drawing Communist Propaganda Backlash
Updated
Updated · Fox News · Oct 11
NYC Mayor Mamdani Praises 7-Term Vito Marcantonio, Drawing Communist Propaganda Backlash
2 articles · Updated · Fox News · Oct 11
Summary
Zohran Mamdani marked Italian Heritage Month with an X post praising Vito Marcantonio’s vision of government for working people, triggering a sharp public rebuke from Queens Councilwoman Vickie Paladino.
Marcantonio, who represented East Harlem for seven terms, later served through the American Labor Party; his anti-Korean War stance and legal work for the Communist Party drew FBI scrutiny during the Cold War.
Paladino called him an “obscure Italian-American communist” and accused Mamdani of pushing communist propaganda instead of honoring more broadly celebrated Italian-American figures.
The clash adds to criticism of Mamdani’s relationship with Italian-American symbols after he skipped a Columbus Day parade in Astoria following past criticism of Christopher Columbus.
Mamdani’s office did not immediately respond, leaving the dispute to widen a broader political fight over ethnic heritage, patriotism and the mayor’s left-wing image.