Zohran Mamdani: “It is estimated that approximately 80% of Southern cotton…”

“Nor do I forget that some of my predecessors centuries ago, had enslaved people working for them themselves. Our city may have been relatively early to outlaw the practice of slavery, but we benefited from that practice, too. It is estimated that approximately 80% of Southern cotton passed through New York City. And yet I am proud of our city's legacy as home to some of the most powerful voices in the abolitionist movement. David Ruggles, Louis Napoleon, Sojourner Truth, and so many more.” (28:10–28:16)

This is an excerpt from a raw transcript. The assertions have not been audited or verified. Tap the video to view the source footage and understand the context.