New York Metropolis Mayor Zohran Mamdani confronted some backlash on Monday after making an attempt to clarify rising charges of rape inside his metropolis, as he stated it was due partially to an expanded definition of what constitutes rape.
Throughout an interview with PIX11 Information, reporter Dan Mannarino requested Mamdani about New York Metropolis Council Speaker Julie Menin’s issues over rape and felony assault numbers throughout the metropolis.
Mamdani maintained that the NYPD has reported among the many lowest numbers of murders and shootings in its recorded historical past and recommended that the rape statistics must be contextualized.
“And what I believe is vital to know is numerous the rise in rape additionally comes from an expanded definition of what counts as rape, in addition to survivors coming ahead for acts that occurred years prior,” Mamdani stated. “And we’re grateful for them coming ahead, the braveness and the bravery it takes, however simply to offer New Yorkers with that context.”
Mamdani’s feedback on the “expanded definition of what counts as rape” stunned a few of his critics. Whereas Mamdani’s defenders on-line stated he was merely offering context and wasn’t downplaying the seriousness of the crime, others known as out what they considered as his dismissal of the upswing.
Democratic New York Metropolis Council member Susan Zhuang commented on the clip on X.
“Increasing the authorized definition of rape was an vital step towards recognizing extra survivors below the legislation. But it surely ought to by no means be used to deflect from the accountability to cut back sexual violence. Survivors deserve management, motion, accountability, and justice. They don’t deserve deflection,” she wrote.
“HOW did girls vote for this man?” girls’s activist Riley Gaines wrote.
Republican Texas Rep. Chip Roy remarked, “Rapes are up. Rents are up. International ailments and parasites spreading. Historic Church buildings burning left and proper. Elect the third world, get the third world.”
Outkick founder Clay Travis joked, “Certain, New York Metropolis rents hit an all-time document excessive at this time, however not less than the mayor remains to be very eloquent on social medi…whoops!”
“Going nice,” RedState author Bonchie commented.
Professional-Israel activist Lizzy Savetzky wrote, “Didn’t understand rape had a dynamic definition.”
“No marvel these guys noticed no downside with Platner,” Substack author Jim Treacher wrote.
Fox Information Digital reached out to the mayor’s workplace for remark.
Mamdani’s touch upon the “expanded definition” of rape doubtless refers to New York’s Rape is Rape Act, which was signed into legislation by Democratic New York Gov. Kathy Hochul in Jan. 2024 and went into impact in Sept. of that yr. The legislation classifies rape as nonconsensual or forcibly compelled sexual activity, oral sexual conduct or anal sexual conduct after beforehand defining rape as solely nonconsensual or forcibly compelled vaginal penetration by a penis.
Nevertheless, NYPD’s newest CompStat information from final week noticed a 6.6% enhance in rape in comparison with the identical time final yr, after the definition was already modified.
NYPD’s information additionally confirmed a lower in homicide, theft, theft, housebreaking and grand larceny.
