New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani joined Hindu New Yorkers in Queens on Oct. 15 to celebrate Navratri, following the arrest of 19‑year‑old Alexandros Paporakis for a plot to attack a Hindu temple in Aurora, Illinois.
Paporakis, a Taco Bell cashier from Palatine, was charged with one count of making a terrorist threat and one count of unlawful possession of weapons after investigators said he had focused on the temple for two months, planned to target Indians, and had openly identified as a white supremacist at work.
On Oct. 11, Paporakis attempted to shoot a man from a car, but his rifle jammed and he fled the scene. Prosecutors said he had sent an eight‑page manifesto to a coworker describing Indians, Jews, and African Americans as subhumans.
Mamdani posted on X, saying he was honoured to participate in garba, Sindoor Khela, and aarti ceremonies, and urged communities to stand against hate.
"May we all join together in our shared responsibility to stand against hate and care for one another," he added, concluding with "Jai Mata Ki."
He called for a city‑wide anti‑hate initiative to launch in the coming weeks, signalling a push for coordinated community outreach.