On Monday, June 2, 2025, The Cooper Union, the NAACP New York State Conference, and the New York Civil Liberties Union came together to host a mayoral forum as part of The Cooper Union Gardiner Foundation Great Hall Forum Series. Candidates were asked about their positions on a variety of civil rights and good government issues, including immigration, policing, economic justice, criminal legal system reform, privacy and surveillance, protest rights, education, and racial and gender justice. The event was moderated by Ben Max, executive editor of Max Politics and program director of the New York Law School’s Center for New York City and State Law, while candidates in attendance included Adrienne Adams, Selma Bartholomew, Michael Blake, Brad Lander, Zohran Mamdani, Zellnor Myrie, Jessica Ramos, and Scott Stringer. Watch the recorded event here.

“The approaching mayoral election will be a pivotal moment for the city of New York, offering voters an opportunity to shape this great city into a more inclusive and representative home for all,” said L. Joy Williams, president of the NAACP New York State Conference. “Marking the second election in which voters are ranking candidates, ranked choice voting empowers New Yorkers to express their true voice, ensuring that the elected mayor has broad support across our communities. At NAACPNYS we are focused on educating Black New Yorkers on this new system, ensuring that they are voting for the vision they have for New York City. With that in mind, we are proud to work alongside NYCLU and The Cooper Union to bring this educational forum to all New Yorkers.”

“As New York City prepares for its next mayoral election, the NYCLU is proud to partner with the NAACP and The Cooper Union to provide a space where New Yorkers can hear from the candidates on civil rights, justice, and the direction of our city,” said Donna Lieberman, executive director of the New York Civil Liberties Union. “Decisions made in City Hall impact the lives of every New Yorker, and what happens here often sets the tone for the entire country. We will continue to work to inform New Yorkers about what’s at stake in this election and hold our elected officials accountable.”

“Every election should have an informed electorate,” said Malcolm King, interim president of The Cooper Union. “The Cooper Union’s historic Great Hall has helped realize this aspiration by serving as a forum for civic discourse since 1858. Sixteen NYC mayors have addressed the city on important issues from our stage, and we are honored to continue that tradition tonight through this important candidate forum in partnership with NYCLU and NAACP.”

“I am the speaker of the city council. I am a wife, mother, and grandmother who wants the best for her family. I see everything that you see everyday as a New Yorker. I was born and raised in New York City by union hands. I am running to be mayor because I am already doing the work. I am ready to be mayor,” said Adrienne Adams.  

When asked about the Trump Administration, Dr. Selma Bartholomew responded that, “As a black woman and entrepreneur, what I discovered is that there were no opportunities for Black women. I know that you are angry at Trump. But, the enemy has been in here for some time. I want to shift the mindset from poverty, and build business ecosystems across the City.”

When asked about increased ICE presence in NYC, Michael Blake responded that, “I am from Jamaica. In the conversation around immigration we cannot get caught up in the conversations that republicans want it to be. Immigration is all of us. ICE has no business in our communities. We need to make sure that we are having increased legal representation—especially at legal hearings. We are not protecting those who are coming from immigrant backgrounds enough.”

“We are in a time of emergency for our civil rights. We must stand up for our students. We must show up. We cannot stand up and fight for our values unless we live up to our values,” said Brad Lander. “I will be a mayor who stands up to Donald Trump and fights for our rights.”

“Freedom, civil rights are only as good as our ability to exercise them. My focus is on making this city affordable. Social justice without economic justice is like clapping with one hand. I will deliver on my campaign platform,” said Zohran Mamdani. “To stabilize rents, transform our bus system, and to deliver universal child care to every New Yorker.”

When asked why he was running for mayor, Zellnor Myrie responded that, “My parents came to this country as undocumented immigrants. My parents were union members and fought for opportunities in this city. New York City is about opportunity. This opportunity is under threat—not just from the federal government—but because this city is unaffordable and unlivable. I will fight to make this city affordable and livable.”

“Now that I am a mom to teenage boys—I know that our schools need a lot of help. No matter all the money that we have spent from Albany, we need a mayor that doesn’t play games with our children’s money,” said Jessica Ramos, when asked about the biggest and boldest ideas to protect and expand public education. “That means building out a system that thinks about building out a system intergenerationally. We need universal childcare. I want us to have universal afterschool programming. I want high school to start later in the day, so it can close later in the day. I want a youth jobs guarantee, so we can keep them busy and off the streets. I want digital literacy for our seniors.”

Scott Stringer on why he is running for mayor: “I am tired of our government telling us what we can’t do. We need a city that can live up to its potential. My day one priority is that people from all over the world can get educated and then stay here and raise families. We don’t push people out. When you become a New Yorker, you are ours forever.”