Dozens gathered in Union Square Park on Friday to hear New York City Republican mayoral candidate, Curtis Sliwa, address the topic of political violence.
“I believe that the antidote to free speech is more free speech. We need to keep free speech alive,” Sliwa said, while standing on a message written in chalk that read “exercise your rights.”
The press availability event was held at the statue of Mahatma Gandhi, as Sliwa addressed Gandhi’s reputation of peace and called for a return to peaceful debate. Attendees included New York City voters, political activists, and journalists.
The event followed Charlie Kirk’s assassination on Sep. 10 in Utah, in which Sliwa wrote was “unspeakably heartbreaking,” in a facebook post on Sep. 10.
“I more than anyone else know what it is to be the object of an execution. Sliwa said, referencing the attack made on him in June of 1992, in which he was shot 5 times. “I receive threats everyday.”
“Whether you pick me or not, or you pick Zoran or Eric Adams or Cuomo, let the people’s voices be heard peacefully at the ballot box,” he continued.
Sliwa referenced other prominent figures that have been subject to assassination or political violence, specifically in New York City, such as Martin Luther King Jr., Malcom X, John Lennon and Abraham Lincoln.
“Let me just say that New York City itself has a history of violence that involves political violence,” he said as he called for peace amidst a polarizing time.
Liz Fenamore, New York voter and volunteer at an organization advocating for animal rights, commended Sliwa for advocacy towards animal protection.
“I’ve never voted for Republican in my life, but I’d consider voting for him,” Fenamore said.
“They don’t have to vote for me as a Republican, but they can vote for me on animal welfare,” Sliwa said in an interview after the event, referencing mobilizing single-issue voters through his ballot line, “Protect Animals.”
“Mahatma Gandhi, who actually said, ‘a society that does not take care of its animals, does not take care of its people’. He was exactly correct. Look at our homeless. Look at our emotionally disturbed.” Sliwa said in his speech.
Margaret Telesford, Brooklyn resident and attendee, supported Sliwa’s proclamation about his inability to be bribed or bought.
“I like that nobody can buy him because all his politicians seem to be bought,” Telesford said. “He’s a strong candidate and can’t be bought,” Fenamore also noted.
“You can’t buy me. You can’t lease me. You can’t rent me. I am uncorruptible. And if you look at the polls, it’s where I really shine, versus the other three, people say he’s a man of character, he’s someone you could trust,” Sliwa said.
Telesford mentioned her consideration to vote for Sliwa, and is also considering voting for Mamdani in the election, representing a class of swing voters in New York City.
“I have an independent line, first ever in electoral history,” Sliwa said in reference to mobilizing these voters.
As the event concluded, Sliwa took questions from journalists, and gave a comment regarding his stance on the recent controversy surrounding the cancellation of Jimmy Kimmel Live.
“I was considered one of the biggest talk radio show hosts in America for 35 years at the most powerful station, WABC. There were times I gave out misinformation. Clearly, he gave out misinformation about the execution of Charlie Kirk,” Sliwa said.
“[Kirk’s assassin] He was not related to Maga. He was not influenced by Maga. It would have been so simple for him [Kimmel] just to say, I apologize, I was wrong,” he said of Kimmel. “I’ve been wrong before. I’ll probably be wrong again in the future. Humble yourself. This isn’t a litmus test between Democrats and Republicans,” Sliwa continued.
He took other questions from journalists and attendees regarding transgender rights, his rumored communication with the White House, and his attitude towards death threats against him.
“We cannot allow anything to hinder or hamper freedom of speech. It’s what makes America so great,” he said in regards to threats made towards him, noting he feared not.
Sliwa concluded the event and his speech with, “Hopefully this will resonate with all the candidates, the supporters, the friends. Bring the rhetoric down. Let’s have the debates. Let the people decide who the next mayor of the city of New York is going to be.”
