A classic David and Goliath story reached an historic milestone in the New York City mayoral race on Tuesday when 34-year-old Zohran Mamdani — relying on people power through 100,00 volunteers — successfully defeated former governor Andrew Cuomo, who was supported by many billionaires, including Donald Trump.

The Big Apple has long held a special place in the hearts of Bermudians, given its proximity. Many locals have familial ties, like my own maternal grandmother’s brother, Uncle Lennie, who migrated there in the late 1930s and married an American, Aunt Josephine. Although Uncle Lennie had passed on long before my time, Aunt Joie kept close contact with her Bermuda family during my youth.

Her residence was a port of call for our extended family. My first trip abroad at age 6 involved my mom taking me and my ten-year-old cousin, Cheryl, to stay with Aunt Joie for several days — in her ancient but spacious three-bedroom apartment on Nicholas Avenue in Harlem. That maiden voyage inspired my lifelong sense of adventure.

Zohran Mamdani has inspired a sense of hope in hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers, and many across the globe. This at a time when chaos dominates global politics, obviously captured by the super wealthy. Mamdani’s fresh approach, exuding integrity while championing the real needs of ordinary people, has energised unprecedented numbers.

Sweeping in as the first Muslim mayor of this key city demonstrates that the well-funded campaign to foster polarisation has failed. Light overcame the darkness.

At this global crossroads, the choice of New Yorkers speaks volumes. The catastrophe that is being wrought by big bullies, bragging about slashing services for millions, is undermining US healthcare, education, social assistance and much more. Mamdani’s agenda stands in sharp contrast, looking to expand support for working families. He occupies the high ground on matters of principle, championing the notion that no one is above the law.

Mamdani’s supporters are aware that, notwithstanding the victory, the challenges ahead will be massive. They must recognise that the status quo cannot afford having people power succeed as more than a one-off. Trump has pledged to cut off all federal funding to the city — a threat that supplement the President’s militarised invasions of those cities with non-White mayors by Federal Government troops aided and abetted by raids from masked Ice agents, who offer a reminder of the “dark” days of the Ku Klux Klan.

Since Mamdani stands clearly opposed to these regressive policies, as well as his stance against the Gaza genocide, he is being targeted by global elites. Many of his supporters recognise that the new mayor will be consequentially subjected to dirty tricks. Some even suggest that his respect for the outstanding International Criminal Court warrant for the arrest of Israeli prime minister Binyamin Netanyahu may lead Israelis to engage in an intervention.

False flag operations have been used in the past by Mossad, the Israeli secret service, to undermine those opposing injustice. MI5 whistleblowers report that Mossad successfully detonated a car bomb in front of the Israeli embassy in London in 1994 and was able to facilitate that crime being pinned on two Palestinian students. This had a substantial negative impact on the Palestinian Justice Movement in Britain for a sustained period.

Most secret services use false flag operations. Detailed reports, resulting from Pati requests, have documented such operations being launched in the US.

During the 1950s through 1970s, the FBI and CIA launched Cointelpro which targeted unions, civil rights, peace movement and Black Power advocates. The Reverend Martin Luther King Jr was subjected to a number of dirty tricks, as were many others.

The Pentagon claimed to have evidence confirming that Iraq had weapons of mass destruction, but none were ever found after hundreds of thousands died in the Gulf war.

Mamdani will not escape this possible reality. The only cure will be that he maintains his integrity and continues playing his role with stakeholders, fostering solidarity and guided by the slogan that a people united will never be defeated.

• Glenn Fubler represents Imagine Bermuda