Albany, NY – Nassau County Executive and Republican gubernatorial candidate Bruce Blakeman is demanding that New York City Mayor-elect Zohra Mamdani immediately remove a transition team member accused of making anti-police remarks, igniting a sharp political clash over law enforcement and public safety.
In a statement released Monday, Blakeman called for the dismissal of Kazi Fouzia, an organizer with Desis Rising Up and Moving (DRUM), after a resurfaced 2020 video showed her referring to New York City police officers as “killers.” Fouzia, a self-described “revolutionary organizer,” questioned those who support relatives joining the NYPD, asking, “What are you proud for? That your relative would become a killer one day, or brutally beat our people?”
“What are you proud for? That your relative would become a killer one day, or brutally beat our people?” she said.
Blakeman condemned the comments as “disgusting, dangerous, and completely unacceptable,” saying Mamdani’s decision to include Fouzia on her transition team disrespects the men and women of law enforcement. “Calling our police officers ‘killers’ is beyond the pale,” Blakeman said. “Mayor-elect Mamdani cannot allow someone who publicly demonizes those who risk their lives to protect New Yorkers to hold any role in her administration. Kazi Fouzia should be fired immediately.”
The Republican candidate framed the controversy as part of a broader pattern, accusing both Mamdani and Democratic Governor Kathy Hochul of aligning with groups that promote anti-police agendas. Blakeman noted that both were endorsed by the Working Families Party, which has previously backed calls to defund the police. “This anti-police rhetoric is not an isolated incident,” Blakeman said. “It reflects a dangerous philosophy that undermines the rule of law and public safety in New York.”
Blakeman’s campaign positioned his response as a direct contrast to what he described as Democratic tolerance for radical activism. “By empowering a radical anti-police activist and standing shoulder to shoulder with ‘Defund the Police’ allies, Mamdani and Hochul have made their priorities crystal clear,” Blakeman said. “As Governor, I will stand with law enforcement, reject the ‘Defund the Police’ agenda, and ensure extremists have no influence over the future of New York.”
The remarks come amid rising political tension over public safety policy and the lingering impact of the “defund” debate that emerged during the nationwide protests of 2020. While Mamdani has not publicly responded to Blakeman’s demand, her transition team’s inclusion of Fouzia has drawn attention from law enforcement advocates and Republican officials who argue that appointing outspoken critics of police sends the wrong message at a time when violent crime and officer shortages remain ongoing concerns.
Blakeman, a longtime supporter of police unions in Nassau County, has built his campaign around law-and-order themes, pledging to restore what he calls “respect for law enforcement” across the state. His call for Fouzia’s removal signals a broader effort to paint Democrats as out of touch with public safety priorities heading into the next election cycle.
Fouzia and DRUM, the immigrant rights organization where she serves as director of organizing, have been vocal in their advocacy for police accountability and immigration reform. The group has previously supported campaigns criticizing NYPD surveillance of Muslim communities and calling for reallocation of police funds to social services.
Political observers say the dispute underscores a deepening divide in New York’s political landscape, where debates over policing, public safety, and community reform continue to define partisan boundaries. Blakeman’s push places him squarely in alignment with conservative messaging that ties Democratic progressives to anti-police sentiment, a theme likely to dominate early stages of the gubernatorial race.
Governor Hochul’s office has not commented on Blakeman’s statements, and Mamdani’s transition team has yet to issue an official response regarding Fouzia’s role.
Blakeman’s campaign emphasized that his stance is not merely symbolic but central to his platform. “This is about standing up for those who protect us,” he said. “We can’t let individuals who call our police officers ‘killers’ have influence over public policy in this state.”
Blakeman’s demand for Fouzia’s removal intensifies the spotlight on policing and political accountability in New York, signaling that law enforcement issues will remain at the forefront of the upcoming gubernatorial campaign.