New York City at 250: From Liberty to Mamdani

November 10, 2026

New York City

By Esma Kurtlu

September 11, 2026

When xxxxx

November 10, 2026

Tuesday, November 10, 2026

6:00 pm: Reception with open bar and hors d'oeuvres
7:00 pm: Panel discussion and Q&A

Location

New York City

When

Tuesday, November 10, 2026

6:00 pm: Reception with open bar and hors d'oeuvres
7:00 pm: Panel discussion and Q&A

Where

Fraunces Tavern
54 Pearl St
New York, NY 10004
Map and directions

Tickets

Admission: $35

Get Tickets

Proceeds will be donated to Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation.

Once celebrated as a city of liberty, opportunity, commerce, and private enterprise, New York now finds itself at the center of a renewed socialist movement. As the City celebrates America’s 250th anniversary, join the Independent Institute for a timely discussion about the ideas that have shaped the city, and where it stands today.

Our panel will examine New York’s history and political transformation, and consider what the rise of Zohran Mamdani means for the future of America’s greatest city. The discussion will feature Joe Sweeny, NYC lawyer and political commentator; William Watkins, constitutional lawyer and author; and Michael Douma, author and professor. A representative from the Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation will provide opening remarks on the historical record and real-world consequences of communist regimes.

Proceeds from the event will be donated to Victims of Communism to support its educational mission.

The evening will conclude with a reception at historic Fraunces Tavern, where George Washington delivered his famous farewell address to his officers. Guests will enjoy an open bar and hors d’oeuvres while continuing the conversation with fellow attendees and speakers.

Featured Speakers

William J. Watkins, Jr.

William J. Watkins, Jr. is a Research Fellow at the Independent Institute and author of the Independent Institute books The Independent Guide to the Constitution, Crossroads for Liberty, and Reclaiming the American Revolution. He received his B.A. in history and German summa cum laude from Clemson University and his J.D. cum laude from the University of South Carolina School of Law, and his LL.M. with merit from the University of London. Mr. Watkins is a former law clerk to Judge William B. Traxler, Jr., of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit, and he is President of the Greenville, SC, Lawyers Chapter of the Federalist Society. He has served as a prosecutor and defense lawyer, and has practiced in various state and federal courts.

Michael J. Douma

Michael J. Douma is a Research Fellow at the Independent Institute and an Associate Research Professor at Georgetown University’s McDonough School of Business, where he is director of the Institute for the Study of Markets and Ethics. He is the author of four books, including most recently, The Slow Death of Slavery in Dutch New York (Cambridge Univ. Press, 2025) and editor of five more. He teaches courses on economic history, globalization, and capitalism.

Joe Sweeny

Joe Sweeny fka Sweenie is litigator and high profile political commentator in New York City. After gaining national prominence through his social media activism via his pseudonym “@sweeenie”, a platform which combines daily political commentary with culture and law, art and heated debate, he became a household name on our country’s most prominent news outlets. Sweeenie played basketball for Tom Izzo at Michigan State University, and was Student Body President at The University of Maryland School of Law. Today, Sweeenie maintains an active, bi-coastal legal practice alongside his burgeoning presence in Manhattan society.