Mamdani Appoints Advisor Who Praised 'Gay Communism' and Called for Police Abolition

A senior adviser to Mayor Zohran Mamdani, earning an annual salary of $185,000, has come under scrutiny for past social media posts that championed "gay communism" and advocated for the abolition of police.

Lena Afridi, who uses they/them pronouns, was hired to advise on "responses to federal intervention" for First Deputy Mayor Dean Fuleihan, according to an April LinkedIn post. Afridi is also listed as an editor for Pinko magazine, which has described itself as "communism for fags" and a "collective for thinking gay communism."

In a 2019 blog post, Pinko stated, "What do we mean by communism? Something like the freedom not to have to seek our lives on the market, attained through the abolition of all forms of private property, family and the state." Afridi has previously expressed support for "gay communism" and posted a tribute to Rita 'Bo' Brown, a former member of a 1970s Marxist organization called the George Jackson Brigade.

Regarding law enforcement, Afridi stated, "On a personal note, outside of work: while I believe that defunding the NYPD is absolutely necessary in order to get much needed resources to the people, I also believe that the only way to achieve true liberation is not through reform but abolition of the police." These statements were part of deleted social media posts recovered by The Washington Free Beacon.

Additionally, Afridi described Aaron Bushnell, the U.S. Air Force serviceman who died after setting himself on fire outside the Israeli Embassy in Washington D.C., as someone who "died for truth" and is "venerated across the world." In other deleted posts, Afridi advised against glorifying Gandhi, calling him a "racist anti-Black misogynist."

Afridi is the latest City Hall hire to have deleted controversial social media content prior to assuming their position. Previously, Mamdani's Chief Equity Officer deleted posts calling for wealthy individuals to be "taxed to the white meat" and stating there is "NO moderate way to black liberation." Cea Weaver, director of the Mayor's Office to Protect Tenants, also deleted posts that described homeownership as a "weapon of white supremacy."

Requests for comment from City Hall and Afridi were not immediately returned.