Thousands gather for “New York is Not for Sale” rally

On Sunday, October 26th, I, along with thousands of other New Yorkers, packed into Forest Hills Stadium for the “New York is Not For Sale” rally for Zohran Mamdani, who is one of the candidates running for mayor. This was my first time attending a rally and it was an exciting experience.

The rally was hosted by comedian Sarah Sherman, most well-known from Saturday Night Live, who encouraged people to get out and canvas, which means knock on doors or make phone calls, for Mamdani’s campaign. 

Many famous politicians spoke throughout the night, such as Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Senator Bernie Sanders, and of course, Assembly Member Mamdani. It was inspiring to see him speak in person, and it seemed like he felt more connected to New Yorkers and their experiences than the other candidates. 

Mamdani’s campaign is promoting fast and free buses, universal childcare and freezing the rent for rent-stabilized tenants. During his speech, he focused on the rising costs of living in New York City and compared his plans to his opponents, who he says don’t have plans for the future and that one of his opponents, former governor Andrew Cuomo is using “a playbook of the past.”

Governor Hochul also spoke, however she faced backlash from the crowd, with people chanting “tax the rich,” as well as one person yelling “we’re not your friend.” Other speakers generally gained a more positive reaction from the audience.

In addition to speakers, there were entertainers. A band played  to get the audience warmed up before the rally started. And there were performances from the Resistance Revival Chorus and the 2024 National Youth Poet Laureate, Stephanie Pacheco, who spoke about life as a student in New York City. 

The speakers kept us engaged and united the very diverse crowd by doing things like encouraging us to cheer or turn our flashlights on at different moments. For example, if we were canvassing or came from a certain part of New York or if we were part of different religions, we should turn on our flashlights.

The rally ended with Mamdani encouraging people to vote on Election Day, November 4th, as people started to exit the stadium. While it was a long night, lasting around four-and-a-half hours, it was an inspiring and great experience to be with so many people in one place, united for the same reason: making New York City a safe and affordable place to live.