Hecklers taunt Gov. Hochul with ‘Tax the Rich’ chant at Zohran Mamdani’s NYC rally featuring AOC and Sanders
Governor Kathy Hochul faced a tough crowd at Zohran Mamdani’s mayoral rally in Queens, with hecklers shouting “tax the rich” as she took the stage. The Democratic governor was met with boos and chants from the audience at the sold-out event, which featured Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Sen. Bernie Sanders in support of Mamdani.
Despite the interruptions, Hochul tried to stay on message, emphasizing the need to push back against attacks on progressive values by the Trump administration and Republicans in Washington. She spoke out against the government shutdown, ICE raids in New York City, and the indictment of Attorney General Letitia James.
The hecklers continued to disrupt Hochul’s speech, but she managed to urge the crowd to channel their energy into the upcoming midterm elections. Finally, Mamdani took the stage early to calm the audience and show his support for the governor, even though he has yet to endorse her for reelection.
Mamdani, a Democratic socialist, has proposed a plan to impose a 2% income tax on New Yorkers making over $1 million a year and increase the corporate tax rate. Hochul has previously criticized this plan, stating that she is not in favor of raising taxes during a time when affordability is a major concern.
The mayoral election is fast approaching, with early voting already underway and Election Day set for November 4th. Mamdani’s rally, despite the disruptions, showcased the support he has from prominent progressive figures like Ocasio-Cortez and Sanders. The event highlighted the divisions within the Democratic Party on tax policy and other key issues, setting the stage for a heated political battle in the coming weeks.
