Families of victims of the September 11, 2001, attacks are petitioning to prevent New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani from attending the 25th anniversary ceremony at Ground Zero. Organizers of the petition argue that Mamdani's past associations and public statements are insensitive to the memory of the nearly 3,000 people killed in the terrorist attacks.
Giovanni Galante, whose wife Grace Catherine Galante was among those killed, is leading a petition drive that has garnered over 1,100 signatures, including support from at least 300 victims' families. He stated that the day is "sacred" and should not be a platform for individuals with views perceived as minimizing the tragedy or supporting terrorism.
The petition, posted on Change.org, outlines several concerns regarding Mamdani, who is the city's first Muslim mayor. These include his alleged refusal to condemn the phrase "globalize the intifada," his past association with Imam Siraj Wahhaj, who has made anti-gay statements and was an unindicted co-conspirator in the 1993 World Trade Center bombing, and his appointments of individuals who have defended terrorists or organizers of anti-Israel protests.
Concerns also cited are Mamdani's endorsements of political candidates, including Aber Kawas, who reportedly described 9/11 as an attack "a couple of people did," and Darializa Avila Chevalier, who has made anti-American statements. The petition also points to Mamdani's past social media posts that allegedly defended Anwar al-Awlaki, an al-Qaeda cleric, and blamed America for his radicalization. Mamdani's father, Mahmood Mamdani, a professor at Columbia University, has also reportedly expressed sympathy for suicide bombers.
"Given these concerns, we respectfully ask that the organizers carefully consider whether Mr. Mamdani’s participation would align with the intention of the ceremony and the expectations of the families most directly affected by the tragedy," the petition reads. Organizers expressed a desire for the commemoration to remain focused on remembrance and unity, with an "unambiguous rejection of the violence and extremism that defined that day."
Cheri Sparacio, whose husband Thomas was killed on 9/11, added that Mamdani's alleged association with influencer Hasan Piker, who reportedly said "America deserved" the 9/11 attacks, and Mamdani's own claims that Muslims were victims of Islamophobia following 9/11, further justify their request.
Monica Iken-Murphy, whose husband Michael Iken was killed on 9/11, signed the petition, emphasizing that the objection is not political but focused on ensuring families feel comfortable during the ceremony. She suggested that officials involved in the healing process from the beginning, such as former mayors Michael Bloomberg and Rudy Giuliani, and former Senator Hillary Clinton, should be prioritized for attendance.
A spokesperson for the 9/11 Memorial & Museum stated that the commemoration is intentionally kept apolitical and that government officials from all political spectrums have attended simply to bear witness, without delivering remarks, and are asked to remain in a designated area. The mayor's office did not respond to requests for comment.
Galante and other organizers plan to contact the New York City Council for support, with Councilwoman Joann Ariola expressing her readiness to assist due to Mamdani's endorsements of candidates she believes are inappropriate for such a solemn occasion.