Knicks slap Mamdani-backed NY Senate candidate Aber Kawas with ‘cease and desist’ letter over campaign ad: 'False advertising'
New York Post • • entertainment
Key Points:
- The New York Knicks have issued a cease and desist letter to Queens state Senate candidate Aber Kawas for unauthorized use of a doctored Knicks logo in her campaign materials, threatening legal action for trademark infringement and false association.
- Kawas, a Democratic Socialist and Mamdani-backed candidate, used a modified Knicks logo with her name and campaign slogans on social media and stickers, following a similar tactic previously attempted by NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani.
- The Knicks and Madison Square Garden Sports emphasized that Kawas’ campaign is not affiliated with or endorsed by the team, warning that her use of the logo is misleading and constitutes unfair competition.
- Kawas has faced criticism for controversial statements about 9/11 and her activism with the Council on American-Islamic Relations, which resurfaced amid her campaign and Mamdani’s support.
- The Knicks’ owner James Dolan has had public tensions with Mamdani’s administration, including disputes over NBA Finals fan events and political endorsements, adding context to the current conflict over logo usage.
