Ferdousi Begum and her husband, Parveg Hasan, actively supported Zohran Mamdani's mayoral campaign while engaging their Astoria community. Over six months, they canvassed local businesses and places frequented by Bengali immigrants. After joining tenant organizing through the Astoria Tenants Union and CAAAV, they sought to empower their neighbors and advocate for racial and economic justice. Begum emphasized the importance of raising awareness about tenant rights and the necessity of their efforts to continue living in New York City amid financial struggles.
"Whenever we found another Bengali, we would engage in conversation. We would start with Salaam. What is your name? Are you a tenant?"
"I tell everyone about organizing. I speak to my friends, family, neighbors about the importance of growing our power."
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