A nonprofit organization funded by George Soros has publicly condemned a petition seeking to prevent New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani from attending the 25th-anniversary memorial for victims of the 9/11 attacks. The group, September 11th Families for Peaceful Tomorrows, stated that the petition against Mamdani is fueled by Islamophobic sentiment and anti-American accusations.
Soros's Open Society Foundation has provided $525,000 to September 11th Families for Peaceful Tomorrows since 2016, according to records. This organization, an affiliate of the Tides Center, was established in 2002 by a small number of 9/11 relatives and reports having 250 members globally. Its stated agenda also includes opposition to U.S. and Israeli military actions in Iran.
Giovanni Galante, the lead organizer of the petition to bar Mamdani, countered the criticism. He asserted that the opposition to Mamdani's presence at the memorial is not based on his religion, but rather on his past associations and the individuals he represents. Galante specifically mentioned Mamdani's engagement with figures such as left-wing influencer Hasan Piker, who reportedly once stated that America deserved 9/11, and Imam Siraj Wahhaj, an unindicted co-conspirator in the 1993 World Trade Center bombing.
Galante, whose wife Grace was killed in the 2001 attacks, emphasized that the movement is against those who oppose America, not against any religious group. "We’re not against Muslims; we’re not against Jews; we’re not against anyone," Galante said. "We’re against people who are against America – who want us to suffer or be murdered."
The petition has garnered significant support, collecting over 62,000 signatures as of Saturday morning, with Galante estimating that thousands of signatories are family members of 9/11 victims. Galante noted receiving substantial support through emails and texts from individuals interested in keeping the mayor from the ceremony.
Councilwoman Joann Ariola, a Republican representing Queens neighborhoods heavily impacted by the attacks, criticized the involvement of Soros-funded groups. "The voices of 9/11 families should not be drowned out by billionaire-backed activists and those engulfed by their propaganda campaign," Ariola stated. "The mayor needs to stay home and sit this one out."
Previous reports indicated that Soros and the Open Society Foundation contributed approximately $37 million to the Working Families Party and at least nine other left-wing organizations that supported Mamdani's successful campaign against former Governor Andrew Cuomo in the Democratic mayoral primary. Representatives for Soros and the Open Society Foundation did not respond to requests for comment.
Charles G. Wolf, who lost his wife Katherine in the Twin Tower attacks and signed the petition, called any organization backed by George Soros illegitimate. "This is not the people speaking," Wolf stated. "This is George Soros and his billions of dollars trying to cause public strife in America. Don’t let George Soros make a monkey out of us."
Mamdani's campaign last year included interactions with Imam Siraj Wahhaj. [IMAGE3:alt=Mamdani campaigning with Imam Siraj Wahhaj.][IMAGE5:alt=Mamdani campaigning with Imam Siraj Wahhaj.][IMAGE10:alt=Mamdani campaigning with Imam Siraj Wahhaj.]