The new mayor of New York City, Zohran Mamdani, wrote a hand-written letter to Khalid after meeting with his parents. Mamdani wrote: “Dear Umar, I think of your words on bitterness often, and the importance of not letting it consume one’s self. Many of these witnesses gave similar statements against the accused and the protests, including at least one that was dismissed by a trial court judge. Mobile location data showed the men were never together, and a trial court discredited the police witness in a related proceeding. Trial courts are often wary and reluctant to grant bail the moment the police invoke India’s stringent anti-terror law, the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA), 1967.