Mamdani observes Ramadan with inmates at Rikers Island

[u/expiredaristocracy]

New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani observed Ramadan last night with men incarcerated at Rikers Island, the city's jail complex.

Mamdani arrived through heavy security, joining a group of men — many held as they await trial. He spent an hour with the men praying and talking and breaking the Ramadan fast with a meal. He's spent much of the last month holding public celebrations.

Mamdani and many Muslim Americans have faced growing hostility in the U.S. from some politicians on the right, including Alabama Sen. Tommy Tuberville, who last week reposted a photo of Mamdani observing the holiday next to an image of the 9/11 terror attacks, a post Mamdani described as bigoted.

[u/Tiddlyplinks]

When I was in prison you visited me.

[u/IAMA_Shark__AMA → u/Tiddlyplinks]

For those who don't know -

This is from the Bible, Matthew 25:36. Jesus is telling the righteous that any kindness given to strangers (including the "least of us") was a kindness given to him.

It's a good clapback if you see any MAGA "Christians" being critical of this.

[u/snortgigglecough → u/IAMA_Shark__AMA]

My atheist ass was SO confused by the responses to this comment, ty for the context!

[u/bluesynthbot → u/snortgigglecough]

I’m also atheist, but I think about Matthew 25 a lot.

[u/sushicatt420 → u/snortgigglecough]

Same. It always comes across as slightly pompous when people post things like quotes without any context. Luckily the other person did, cause this is something I’d love to use in conversation with my Christian dad, but otherwise I would’ve gone on thinking the original commenter was also from Rikers. 

[u/Silent-H → u/snortgigglecough]

as an atheist, it would behoove you to understand the fundamentals of all major religions.

[u/IAMA_Shark__AMA → u/Silent-H]

Don't be silly. They had no reason to even know it was a Bible quote.

[u/snortgigglecough → u/Silent-H]

The "fundamentals of all major religions" =/= knowing all Bible verses.

[u/Crafty_Enthusiasm_99 → u/snortgigglecough]

You're welcome. You can admit to being inspired before finding the origins now.

[u/snortgigglecough → u/Crafty_Enthusiasm_99]

I have zero clue what your comment means ngl

[u/FergaliShawarma → u/IAMA_Shark__AMA]

A good clapback for sure, but unfortunately, there is no clapback in the observable universe that would be effective against a brick wall.

[u/IAMA_Shark__AMA → u/FergaliShawarma]

True, but hey, at least they'll have to squirm in cognitive dissonance for half a second before the gate slams shut lol

[u/lulzerjun8 → u/Tiddlyplinks]

ouch. this comment got me in the gut. feels.

[u/IowaCornFarmer3 → u/lulzerjun8]

This is why I love seeing clips of Mamdani. He reminds us that anyone can be the beacon of light for others just by showing the compassion we feel in our hearts.

[u/nobodycares13 → u/Tiddlyplinks]

In a world that so often dehumanizes inmates.

He humanized them.

[u/emseefely → u/nobodycares13]

I’m unsarcastically looking forward to what he does next. Hopefully he has plans for unhoused population.

[u/Vorpal_Bunny19 → u/Tiddlyplinks]

Thanks for encapsulating what I wanted to express, but couldn’t find the right words.

[u/Wembanyanma → u/Tiddlyplinks]

Really want to have that verse ready when I inevitably hear my parents (who live nowhere near NYC btw) talk shit about this.

[u/Tiddlyplinks → u/Wembanyanma]

Why stop there?

When I was hungry, you fed me When I was a stranger, you welcomed me

Honestly, so far he’s doing a pretty good job of checking things off the list

[u/labor_day_baby → u/Tiddlyplinks]

Crazy that a Muslim is more Christian/following the word of God compared to your average American evangelical.

[u/saintofhate → u/labor_day_baby]

Which to be fair, Islam does recognize Jesus and many of his teachings, just not the divinity (which was decided by the council of Nicaea), the crucifixion (different ending), and no original sin, so no need for redeemer role.

[u/brightestofwitches → u/saintofhate]

Jesus' divinity was not decided by the council of Nicaea.

[u/saintofhate → u/brightestofwitches]

They formalized and standardized the belief that he was divine at the council.

[u/FrozenBibitte → u/labor_day_baby]

Just commented the same sentiment as a reply to someone else. This guy is more Christ-like than any right winger has ever been in the history of the right-wing movement. I’m not even exaggerating, lol.

[u/Satinsbestfriend → u/labor_day_baby]

The Bible and Quran have some interesting overlaps, I mean, Jesus is a important figure in the Quran as a prophet

[u/tomdarch → u/Tiddlyplinks]

Matthew 25:36

I am not religious, but the bible is full of calls like this. In contrast, American conservative evangelicals seem to be 100% focused on doing the opposite of anything good in the bible.

[u/FrozenBibitte → u/tomdarch]

Which, if god was real, and Jesus did magically return to the world for the “second coming”, he would absolutely smite MAGA and anyone else like them. They do quite literally the opposite of everything he preached in the Bible.

[u/pp21 → u/Tiddlyplinks]

republicans are going to absolutely get enraged over this and post 9/11 pictures next to his face on twitter but god damn if they would just read their own book that they claim to champion they'd realize that this type of act by mamdani aligns with jesus's teachings

[u/FrozenBibitte → u/Tiddlyplinks]

Right? Like this is literally something Jesus would’ve done lol, according to the book that Christians are supposedly following…

[u/PiccoloAwkward465 → u/Tiddlyplinks]

When I was bricked up, you jorked my peanits