Domestic violence survivors warn NYC candidate Mamdani’s stance against police response risks women’s lives.

Survivors and Advocates Raise Alarm Over Domestic Violence Response

Domestic violence survivors and advocates are voicing deep concerns after past comments by New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani opposing police intervention in abuse cases resurfaced. In a 2020 podcast interview, Mamdani argued that police should not be the primary responders in situations like domestic violence, suggesting that other professionals could handle such crises more effectively. His remarks, made during a period of heightened anti-police sentiment nationwide, have reignited debate about the role of law enforcement in protecting vulnerable citizens.

“Police do not create safety… if somebody is surviving, going through domestic violence—there are so many different, different situations that would be far better handled by people trained to deal with those specific situations, as opposed to an individual with a gun,” Mamdani said in July 2020.

For domestic violence survivors like Michelle Esquenazi, founder of the Victims Rights Reform Council, police response has meant the difference between life and death. She recounted a harrowing incident from 1993 when, while pregnant and attacked by her ex-husband, New York police quickly intervened. “They made sure that me and my children were safe. One of the officers took us to a back bedroom and calmed us down. They separated him from the situation immediately and essentially saved our lives,” Esquenazi said.

Jennifer Harrison, another survivor and victims’ advocate, echoed these concerns. She described her own experience when her boyfriend had a mental health crisis and the police provided crucial protection and information, giving her time to escape a dangerous situation. “That cop probably saved my life… I don’t think we should be playing Russian roulette with the lives of domestic violence victims,” Harrison stated.

Debate Over Public Safety as Mayoral Campaign Heats Up

Mamdani, a self-described democratic socialist and sitting state legislator, has a record of calling to defund the police and labeling the NYPD “wicked and corrupt.” His mayoral campaign proposes creating a Department of Community Safety to take on responsibilities currently handled by police, though in recent debates, Mamdani has insisted he would work with law enforcement and rely more on mental health professionals for nonviolent crises.

Advocates argue that limiting police intervention would place women and children in even greater danger during domestic violence incidents. “There’s a lot of humans who are victims in New York City, and they need protection because sometimes it’s a matter of life and death,” Esquenazi warned. Sonia Ossorio, executive director of National Organization for Women NYC, added, “The number one cause of death and major injury for women in this country is at the hands of their intimate partner. So fast response by law enforcement is critical.”

Republican mayoral candidate Curtis Sliwa was blunt in his criticism, stating, “Women will die, and children will die. He has no idea what goes on, he’s either hopelessly naive, or he hates the police so much he doesn’t care.”

A 2021 World Journal of Psychiatry study found that domestic violence is the leading cause of homicide death for women, with 30% experiencing partner violence. Advocates insist police presence is crucial for immediate safety.

GOP Attacks, Democrats Distance Themselves Amid National Fallout

Amid the controversy, national Republicans have launched a campaign linking Mamdani’s positions to swing-district Democrats, seeking to portray his platform as representative of the party’s left wing. Digital ads target Democrats in competitive House races, labeling Mamdani’s agenda as “pro-criminal, open-borders, anti-law enforcement, and antisemitic.” While some Democrats have criticized Mamdani’s ideas as “too extreme,” others have distanced themselves, arguing that his policies do not reflect the broader party.

As the mayoral campaign intensifies, the debate over public safety and the role of police in domestic violence response has become a defining issue—raising fundamental questions about how best to protect New Yorkers facing danger in their own homes.