New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani was reportedly not given an opportunity to speak at the funeral service for Army Sgt. Angel Sarah Rampersad in Queens on Friday. Rampersad was one of three U.S. service members killed in an Iranian attack on July 17 in Jordan.
According to a report from The New York Post, Mamdani attended the funeral but did not deliver remarks. Sources familiar with the family's wishes indicated that they chose not to have the mayor speak to avoid any "political distractions." Mamdani's office later released his prepared remarks. In them, he planned to state, "It is often said that our fallen 'gave their tomorrows for our today.' Sergeant Rampersad had tomorrows waiting for her: birthdays, ordinary mornings, evenings spent with her loved ones. But she gave every one of them up so that we could have ours — so that we could stand here today, safe and protected."
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul also delivered remarks during the service. "I feel after reading and admiring this woman from a distance, I feel like she could be one of my daughters," Hochul said.
The Department of War confirmed that Sgt. Angel Rampersad, 28, of Ozone Park, New York, was killed in action during an enemy attack at Muwaffaq Salti Air Base in Jordan. She was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 57th Air Defense Artillery Regiment, 52d Air Defense Artillery Brigade, 10th Army Air and Missile Defense Command in Ansbach, Germany, and served as a 25U Signal Operations Support Specialist.
Two other U.S. service members were killed in the attack: 1st Lt. Tyler James Feehan, 25, of Ewa Beach, Hawaii, and Pvt. Isabella Gonzales, 19, of Carrollton, Texas. All three were deployed to Jordan in support of Operation Inherent Resolve. U.S. Central Command stated that the service members were defending against Iranian ballistic missile and drone attacks.
Leaders from Manhattan Jewish Experience and the Orthodox Union have previously expressed concerns that Mamdani's statements regarding Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have increased tensions between the Jewish community and City Hall. This comes as 9/11 families have reportedly sought to ban Mamdani from the 25th-anniversary remembrance event due to his "hostile" record.