NEW YORK, NEW YORK – Outrage is mounting among New York’s law enforcement community after Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani appointed a controversial activist to his education transition team. The appointee, Zakiyah Shaakir-Ansari, has previously expressed admiration for convicted cop-killer Assata Shakur, asking for her advice on "moving the movement."
"So Much to Offer"
Shaakir-Ansari, the co-executive director for the Alliance for Quality Education, was selected last week to advise the incoming administration on public schools. However, a past interview has resurfaced, casting a shadow over her appointment.
In an interview with the website Lingua Franca, Shaakir-Ansari was asked which woman she would most like to spend an afternoon with. Her answer was Assata Shakur, the Black Liberation Army member convicted of executing New Jersey State Trooper Werner Foerster in 1973.
"I believe she has so much to offer," Shaakir-Ansari said of the fugitive, who is currently on the FBI’s Most Wanted Terrorists list. She added that she would ask Shakur for advice on how to "move the movement while also caring for each other."
A Slap in the Face to Law Enforcement
The selection has stunned members of the NYPD and families of fallen officers. Grace Machate, whose husband Officer Robert Machate was murdered in 1989, told reporters that the appointment is "not a good thing."
"When someone kills an officer... it’s something that families are going to stick together on," Machate said.
Former NYPD Lieutenant Eric Dym called the move "unbelievable" and a "conscious decision" rather than an oversight. "When someone with that history is given a seat at the table, it sends the message that your sacrifice is negotiable," Dym stated. "This just strips away at the morale of the NYPD."
"Rude Awakening"
Mamdani, a socialist who notably refused to condemn a Democratic Socialists of America tribute to Shakur during his campaign, has defended his focus on "issues of the city." However, retired NYPD Sergeant Joe Giacolone warned that the city is in for a "rude awakening" with advisors like Shaakir-Ansari influencing policy.
"You pick someone who praises a cop killer... there’s gonna be two types of cops left," Giacolone said. "Those who want to get out and can, and those who want to get out and can’t."
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