New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani was booed off the stage at a pro-police community event in Staten Island this week. His appearance at the annual National Night Out Against Crime was cut short by the crowd. On Tuesday evening, August 4, 2026, Mamdani attended the NYPD’s 43rd Patrol Borough National Night Out at Turtle Circle on the Midland Beach boardwalk. About 3,500 residents and families gathered for the family-oriented event meant to build ties between police and the community.
Staten Island, the city’s most conservative-leaning borough and the only one Mamdani lost in the 2025 mayoral election, gave him a hostile reception. As the mayor approached the podium, loud boos, jeers, and shouts of “Get out of here” and “Nobody wants you here” erupted. Some people flashed thumbs-down gestures. Videos showed the sustained disapproval that largely drowned out his remarks.
Mamdani smiled throughout and kept his comments under a minute. “Happy Night Out Against Crime. It’s amazing to be here for the Staten Island community,” he said. He thanked local officials and Staten Island artist Scott LoBaido, then ended with “God bless everyone.
Thank you.” He shook hands with a few people on stage and left quickly. Despite the opposition, Mamdani later paused to pose for photographs with some attendees. The episode highlighted tensions around the democratic socialist mayor’s policies, including his approach to policing and proposals such as free buses and city-run grocery stores.
Staten Island voters had given him only about 23 percent of the vote in the prior election. Shortly after Mamdani left the stage, local artist and activist Scott LoBaido, a vocal critic of the mayor, tried to approach him but was held back by police. Moments later, LoBaido collapsed from cardiac arrest. Emergency responders gave CPR and oxygen before taking him to Staten Island University Hospital, where he was listed in critical but stable condition.
LoBaido had previously criticized Mamdani’s reported halt of a plan to add thousands of NYPD officers. The incident marked one of the sharpest public rebukes Mamdani has faced since taking office and showed the persistent political divide between Staten Island and the rest of the city.
