New York City’s incoming mayor, Zohran Mamdani, has unveiled the lineup for his inaugural committee. The team will feature children’s content creator Ms. Rachel and well-known progressive activist Cynthia Nixon.
The committee, which consists of more than 50 members, will be tasked with planning the inauguration festivities while also advising Mamdani on his initial policy pursuits.
The inclusion of Ms. Rachel, whose full name is Rachel Griffin Accurso, has sparked interest due to her vocal criticism of Israel’s actions in Gaza, a stance that aligns with Mamdani’s views.
In December 2024, she made headlines with a TikTok video highlighting the dire situation in Gaza, stating, “Over 14,000 innocent children have lost their lives there. Gaza holds the record for the largest number of child amputees ever. We cannot remain silent in the face of such conditions affecting children.”
By May 2025, Ms. Rachel had taken to Instagram to share a poignant image of a malnourished Palestinian child, imploring, “World leaders, I urge you to help this child. Take a moment to truly see her. Think of a baby you dearly love and recognize that the loss of 15,000 children is unconscionable.”
‘World leaders, please help this baby. Please look at her. Please, please look at her. Just, please look at her eyes for one minute,’ she said in the video. ‘If you just think about a baby you love, think about a baby you care so much for, there’s no way that we all don’t know that you can’t kill 15,000 kids.’
Pro-Israel advocacy groups argue she has pushed Hamas propaganda and has selective empathy, because she rarely focuses on Israeli victims in the conflict that was kicked off by the October 7 attack in 2023.
In April, watchdog organization StopAntisemitism said Attorney General Pam Bondi should investigate how Accurso’s social media channels are funded.
Ms. Rachel, full name Rachel Griffin Accurso, was appointed to Zohran Mamdani’s inaugural committee on Tuesday. Her selection got attention because of her activism for Palestine
Mamdani’s team announced that just over four dozen individuals will staff his inaugural committee, which is responsible for organizing the inauguration party and giving Mamdani advice on his early policy agenda
‘We urge you and your office to investigate whether or not Ms. Rachel is being remunerated to disseminate Hamas-aligned propaganda to her millions of followers,’ the group’s director, Liora Rez, wrote in a letter to Bondi.
Accurso has said she cares deeply for all children, whether they are Palestinian or Israeli.
Cynthia Nixon, of Sex and the City fame, was also a big name to make it onto Mamdani’s inaugural committee.
Nixon is a member of the New York City chapter for the Democratic Socialists of America, as is Mamdani.
Before Mamdani successfully ended Andrew Cuomo’s hopes of becoming New York City Mayor, Nixon challenged Cuomo back in 2018 for the governor’s mansion. She lost by 32-point margin.
Nixon is also strongly pro-Palestine and has consistently called for a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas.
Kal Penn and John Turturro are other notable actors who will join the inaugural committee.
Penn, who got his acting start in the Harold & Kumar movies, jumped into politics in 2009 when he was appointed to a liaison position in the Obama administration. He had a starring role on House at the time, which required his character to be cut from the show.
Cynthia Nixon, who was on Sex and the City and ran for New York governor in 2018, will also join Mamdani’s inaugural committee
Kal Penn, famous for his role on House and in the Harold & Kumar movies, is another big name to join the inaugural committee. Penn served in the Obama White House in 2009
John Turturro is on the inaugural team as well. The actor has credits in The Big Lebowski, O Brother, Where Art Thou? and the Apple TV series, Severance
John Turturro has been in movies since 1987, when he had his breakout role in Five Corners. He has also been in The Big Lebowski, O Brother, Where Art Thou? and more recently, he has had a prominent credit in the Apple TV series, Severance.
Mamdani’s inaugural block party will take place on January 1 along Broadway near City Hall.
It is a free event, but the city requires that attendees RSVP online to join the in-person celebration or the livestream.
The city recommended showing up by 11am or 12pm to get a good place to sit for the ceremony, which begins at 1pm.
Senator Bernie Sanders, an Independent from Vermont, and New York Attorney General Letitia James will swear in Mamdani as the next mayor of New York City.
