New York City Democrats generated headlines this year when they made Zohran Mamdani their mayoral nominee despite his far-left inclinations.

Another example of those inclinations was exposed this week when it emerged that Mamdani once called for the abolition of prisons. 

Candidate asked "what purpose" do prisons serves

According to Fox News, Mamdani made the remark during an interview he gave while running for state office five years ago.

"I think that frankly – I mean – what purpose do they serve? I think that we have to ask ourselves that," Mamdani was quoted as saying.

"I think a lot of people who defend the carceral state, they defend the idea of it and the way it makes them feel. They’re not defending the reality of it and the practices that are part and parcel of it," he continued.

"Because if you actually break it down and ask people how many people come out of the prison system better than they went into the prison system, how much harm is actually being prevented versus created, I think when you ask these kinds of questions, people don’t always have clear answers," he insisted.

Mamdani criticized Andrew Cuomo for refusing to "let people out"

Mamdani acknowledged that critics "always want to pivot" by asking, "What are you going to do about murderers? What are you going to do about rapists?"

"Sometimes you have to ask them, 'What are you doing about them right now?’" the self-described socialist demanded.

"We need a system of justice that will repair the harm that has been caused and address it in a serious way because right now we don’t have it, and it makes everyone more unsafe," he asserted.

Mamdani went on to assert that "the power of the executive is almost limitless here in New York State" before condemning then-New York Democratic Gov. Andrew Cuomo for refusing to "let people out and letting people go home."

Police union head says Mamdani will worsen officer shortage

In addition to suggesting that prisons should be abolished, Mamdani argued in a 2020 social media post for the defunding of law enforcement.

Queer liberation means defund the police. https://t.co/cuuwBI9dsv

— Zohran Kwame Mamdani (@ZohranKMamdani) November 6, 2020

Patrick Hendry serves as president of the Police Benevolent Association, and he told the New York Post earlier this month that a Mamdani administration would worsen the NYPD's ongoing manpower shortage.

"We need a mayor who will speak up for police officers, and treat us and pay us like the professionals we are," he said. Hendry went on to accuse Mamdani of having an "extremist attitude" which will push police officers "out the door."