Zohran Mamdani’s victory in the New York mayoral election in some way reconciles us with a United States that, in recent months, has shown the full brutality of its openly fascist policies—both domestically and abroad.

The new mayor, 34 years old, the first Muslim and immigrant ever to win a mayoral seat in the country’s history, built his entire campaign by speaking plainly to the people: about improving everyday life in the city, defending immigrants, and standing up for human rights. He did not shy away from confronting Donald Trump and the political establishment—he did so head-on, with determination, awakening a youth that turned out in historic numbers. Over one million people voted for him—an unprecedented figure, considering that in recent decades total turnout in mayoral elections barely reached that number.

Mamdani is not a product of backroom deals or image consultants. He was shaped in the streets of New York, in the heart of its social movements—arrested for leading protests, even going on hunger strike to defend those who stood to lose everything. That experience gave him a deep understanding of urban struggles and a strategic vision that allowed him to bring down the establishment’s political machinery.

Neither Andrew Cuomo nor Donald Trump could stop the wave of popular support, despite their threats and vicious attacks against Zohran for his Muslim faith or immigrant background. On the contrary: a growing part of American society is awakening from the long sleep imposed by the bipartisan system—one that for decades has blocked from power those who dare to challenge a structure that marginalizes, humiliates, and too often kills people for their race or immigration status.

New York has voted for its own self-defense. The coming months will be a real test: we’ll see how the youth who carried Mamdani to City Hall organize to defend him from the assaults of the federal government and the political and economic elites.

Today is a day to celebrate. Fear has changed sides. Mamdani has shown the world that in just a few months, one can rise from obscurity to political stardom—and hack the system from within. His victory also means something greater: Netanyahu and AIPAC are losing ground in a country without whose support they cannot continue the colonization of Palestine.

Mamdani dared—and he won.