Zohran Mamdani: “The NYPD had a unit, the Demographics Unit, which was tasked…”

“Under what circumstances, if any, should the NYPD be allowed to conduct surveillance of political or religious organizations? I have many concerns about the history of surveillance we've seen in this city. I represent Steinway street in Astoria. And The NYPD had a unit, the Demographics Unit, which was tasked with surveilling Muslim New Yorkers doing the most banal things. The barbershop, the travel agent, hookah bar. There were even reports of when Muslims would play soccer at Astoria Park. And they could have asked me. I would have said every day.” (34:45–34:56)

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.