Socialist NYC mayoral candidate delivered an ultra-politicized “sermon” at Greater Allen AME, a congregation pastored by Mamdani’s “brother and friend,” Stephen A. Green, who has faced fire for his controversial stances, including pushing for reparations for slavery and accusing President Trump of “white supremacist nationalism.”
For background, on August 3, 2025, Zohran Mamdani delivered a message at Greater Allen AME, a church in the Jamaica neighborhood of Queens, New York City, making politically charged statements and promoting his mayoral campaign. Moreover, Mamdani, who identifies as a Muslim, quoted Leviticus 23:22 in an apparent effort to connect with his Christian audience.
Speaking to the congregation at Greater Allen AME, Mamdani said, “When government is at its best, it holds a rare power to forge bonds and restore connections that have frayed.” Continuing, he told the churchgoers, “A government of the people and by the people can truly be for the people, yet for us to deliver that, we must reckon with what government has become.”
Furthermore, the mayoral candidate referenced Leviticus 23:22: “‘An when you reap the harvest of your land, you shall not reap the edges of your field, nor gather the gleaning of your harvest. You are to leave them for the poor and for the stranger.'” Attempting to tie the passage into his political platform, Mamdani said, “And yet, for too long, our leaders have practiced the politics of reaping to the edges of the field.”
Building on his point, Mamdani said that the supposed practice of “reaping to the edges of the field” had undermined “the fragile trust we hold in government,” adding, ” When we forget the poor and we forget the stranger, as politicians so often do, it is not just those with the least among us who suffer. We all become smaller, for, as Dr. [Martin Luther] King said, ‘We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality tied in a single garment of destiny.'”
Moreover, Fox News reported that Mamdani said during his message that the United States is facing a “dark moment,” calling the Trump Administration “authoritarian” and accusing ICE of trying to “abduct immigrants.” He opined, “That is not justice. It is cruelty and it is criminal. These are our neighbors. These are people who are guilty of only wanting a field of their own to harvest.” In addition, the outlet reported that Green called Mamdani his “brother and friend” while introducing the mayoral candidate.
Additionally, Fox reported that Green has previously called for the establishment of a “new U.S. Constitution” that “guarantees the right to vote, abolishes the electoral college, provides reparations for slavery, guarantees annual income, and so much more.” The controversial pastor has also said, “We can not ease up on our pressure to abolish ICE and open our borders.”
Writing on X following his visit to the church, Mamdani said, “My profound thanks to Rev. Stephen A. Green and the Greater Allen AME for the honor of addressing their beautiful congregation in Jamaica, Queens this morning.” In response, commenters called Mamdani a “communist,” a “charlatan,” and a “false teacher,” with one X user accusing him of blasphemy for allegedly lying in church.
Watch a clip from Mamdani’s message:
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