Knicks issue cease-and-desist over Mamdani-backed candidate stickers

Knicks issue – The New York Knicks have sent a cease-and-desist letter to Aber Kawas after her campaign used Knicks-branded stickers featuring the orange-and-blue logo and “I Voted for Aber Kawas.” The Democratic nomination was secured for a Queens state Senate seat on Tuesd

By the time the Knicks players had lifted the NBA championship, the campaign trail outside the spotlight was already carrying their colors.

On Tuesday, Aber Kawas secured the Democratic nomination for a Queens state Senate seat. Days earlier. her supporters were handing voters stickers that used a custom version of the Knicks logo: “I Voted for Aber Kawas.” The orange-and-blue branding matched the NBA champions’ look. swapping “Knicks” for “Kawas.”.

The Knicks responded on Friday night with a cease-and-desist letter sent to Kawas. The letter was issued by senior vice president and head of legal for Madison Square Garden Sports, Brian N. Warner, according to The New York Post.

Warner’s message was blunt: neither the Knicks nor NBA Properties authorized the campaign to use Knicks intellectual property “in any way. ” including “Unauthorized Advertisements. ” which he said were likely to mislead the public into believing that the campaign was affiliated with. or connected to. the Knicks.

The letter added that the campaign’s actions amounted to trademark infringement and trademark dilution, along with false advertising, false association, and unfair competition, as described in the report.

Kawas’ use of the Knicks-inspired branding wasn’t limited to the stickers. She also promoted the “I Voted for Aber Kawas” champion sticker on X just days after the Knicks won the NBA championship. In her post. she urged voters to “claim your ‘I Voted for Aber Kawas’ champion sticker. ” saying: “Earn bragging rights. make your friends jealous. and let everyone know that you’re part of our movement to fight for the world in the world’s borough.”.

The candidate at the center of the controversy had already drawn national attention long before the logo questions. Kawas, described as a Palestinian-American activist, had been backed by Zohran Mamdani in her run. Last year. she was pushed into the spotlight after receiving Mamdani’s backing and. as part of her campaign messaging. she made remarks downplaying the September 11 attacks.

In 2017. at an Asian American Writers’ Workshop. Kawas said: “The system of capitalism and racism and white supremacy and Islamophobia have all been used to colonize lands. to take resources from other people. so this is a long trajectory and we’re just seeing the manifestations of that continuation with 9/11.” She added: “a lot of times when people are asking us to respond about. you know. an attack when if you look back historically. a lot of us come from lands that were colonized and where wars were being waged.”.

She also said: “The idea that we have to apologize for a terror attack that a couple people did and then there is no apology for genocides or slavery is something that I find reprehensible.”

That same theme of branding disputes has echoed in Mamdani’s world. Mamdani attempted a similar logo stunt during his mayoral launch in October, before pulling his ad after receiving an identical warning from the team.

Even as this latest cease-and-desist lands, the Knights ownership picture is already familiar with tension. Billionaire owner James Dolan has been locked in a tense feud with Mamdani’s administration over recent security measures outside the Garden.

The Daily Mail reached out to representatives of Kawas’ campaign for comment.

New York Knicks cease and desist Aber Kawas Zohran Mamdani Madison Square Garden Sports Knicks logo stickers Queens state Senate NBA Properties trademark infringement