‘Our work has only just begun’: Mamdani, Sanders and AOC rally the faithful ahead of NYC mayoral election

Thousands pack Forest Hills stadium on Sunday night, voicing their excitement and hope for change

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ust over a week before New York City’s mayoral election on 4 November, about 13,000 people poured into Forest Hills stadium in Queens for the “NYC Is Not For Sale” rally, a packed gathering headlined by representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, senator Bernie Sanders and the Democratic mayoral candidate, assemblyman Zohran Mamdani.

The historic open-air venue was filled to capacity. New Yorkers of all ages and backgrounds came together, but it was the Gen Z crowd that seemed to animate the atmosphere.

Many there described the event as more than just a rally. It was a moment of unity, frustration and optimism all at once. For Hayley Miller, 23, of Briarwood, the motivation to attend was simple: “I’m here because the government sucks, to be honest with you … and I feel like we should make a change as a country, and New York City is definitely the place to start that.”