Mysonne Linen served seven years for armed robbery convictions in late 1990s taxi driver holdups. (Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images))
"This is a testament to our decades of work advocating on behalf of Black and Brown communities and our expertise in gun violence prevention, legislative advocacy, and criminal justice reform. We are building something different."
Over the years, Linen has built a public presence as a community activist, frequently posting about anti-violence initiatives and civic engagement, and promoting his involvement with Until Freedom.
According to past reports, Linen, a Bronx native who was once signed to Def Jam, was convicted of two felony robberies in the late 1990s.
In 1999, a Bronx jury is said to have found him guilty in two armed robberies of taxi drivers, per the New York Daily News.
New York Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani speaks to supporters during an election night gathering. (Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images)
The Until Freedom website where Linen holds a leadership post, describes the group as "the definitive non-profit organization for community activism, education, and rapid response to tragedies resulting from injustice."
It states: "We are not asking for a donation, we are asking for your investment; an investment in a movement worthy of the most marginalized people." The appeal is followed by several payment options, including Cash App and Venmo.
Mamdani’s decision to place Linen on committees that shape the city’s public-safety vision prompted backlash. The group Jews Fight Back wrote on X:
"Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani just appointed a convicted armed robber to help shape NYC’s crime and policing policy," calling the move "insane."
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Linen, reiterating a phrase he has used in recent speeches to crisis-intervention groups, also posted again this week on Instagram,"We are building something different."
Fox News Digital has reached out to Mysonne Linen, Until Freedom and Zohran Mamdani’s office for comment.
Emma Bussey is a breaking news writer for Fox News Digital. Before joining Fox, she worked at The Telegraph with the U.S. overnight team, across desks including foreign, politics, news, sport and culture.
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/mamdani-appoints-convicted-armed-robber-public-safety-transition-team