'Ana minkum, wa ilaykum': Mamdani hails New York's immigrants with a crowd-pleasing flash of Arabic

New York mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani hailed the city's immigrants after his election win on Tuesday, with a flash of Arabic that drew applause from his supporters in a historic evening for the US.

The 34-year-old is New York's first-ever Muslim, South Asian, and millennial mayor, and he used his victory address to celebrate the multiculturalism of the city and say that immigrants are an essential part of its fabric.

The Democrat candidate’s election victory came in the face of fierce attacks on his policies and Muslim heritage, including from President Donald Trump, business elites, Israel supporters, and conservative media.

He vowed to build a more inclusive and representative New York City.

"You showed that when politics speaks to you without condescension, we can usher in a new era of leadership," Mamdani said from a packed Brooklyn Paramount Theatre.

"We will fight for you because we are you. Or as we say on Steinway (Street), ana minkum wa ilaykum ("I am from you and for you")."

Located in the borough of Queens, Steinway Street is often referred to "Little Egypt," home to many Arab-owned cafes, shisha lounges, bakeries, and restaurants.

"Thank you to those so often forgotten by the politics of our city, who made this movement their own," the mayor-elect said, before making a shoutout to immigrant groups in the city.

"I speak of Yemeni bodega owners and Mexican abuelas (grandmothers). Senegalese taxi drivers and Uzbek nurses. Trinidadian line cooks and Ethiopian aunties – yes, aunties," he said.

"To every New Yorker in Kensington and Midwood and Hunts Point, know this – this city is your city, and this democracy is yours too."

Throughout his campaign, Mamdani was subject to accusations of "antisemitism" from Israel supporters over his criticism of Israel's genocidal war in Gaza and support for the Palestinian cause.

Many Jewish groups and individuals however also congratulated him, with an estimated 33 percent of Jewish voters choosing him

Mamdani was born in Uganda with Indian heritage and became a naturalised US citizen in 2018.

With a population of about 8.5 million, New York City is one of the most diverse cities in the world.

As of 2025, more than 3 million immigrants reside in New York City, making up approximately 38 percent of the population.