Mayor Zohran Mamdani has stated he will attend the 25th anniversary commemoration of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, brushing off a petition with nearly 17,000 signatures that calls for his exclusion from the events. The petition was spearheaded by Giovianni Galante, who lost his wife in the attacks.

Galante cited Mamdani's reluctance to condemn the phrase "globalize the intifada" and his chief counsel's past representation of an individual involved in an al-Qaeda bombing as reasons for the petition. The online plea asserts that the anniversary "is one of remembrance grounded in shared American values: respect for the victims, recognition of the gravity of the attacks, and a clear rejection of the ideologies that contributed to such violence."

Mamdani, however, affirmed his intention to honor the victims and those impacted by the attacks. "I will proudly honor the families, the survivors, the first responders forever impacted by that horrific terror attack, by standing alongside them at this year’s 9/11 commemoration — reaffirming that we will never forget the solemn day felt by all of us who call this city home, and frankly, by all of us who call this country home," Mamdani said.

First responder John Feal expressed support for the families' desire for a peaceful commemoration. "If they're gonna be upset by his presence, and that they're not gonna get that day or a few hours to heal and to hear the loved one’s name without seeing his face, then I support that 100 %," Feal stated, adding, "When you piss off and upset the 9/11 community, it’s a problem."

Petitioners and signees have voiced concerns that Mamdani's public positions and associations are "hostile" to their cause. One first responder, identified as Debra, wrote, "Stay home, please. And ensure your wife does the same. That in itself would be a service to this city." Another signatory, Mark, who said he lost twelve friends in the attacks, wrote, "The current NYC mayor has not earned the privilege of being in the company of such magnificent Americans. Stay away, Mamdani."

The al-Qaeda attacks on September 11, 2001, resulted in the deaths of nearly 3,000 people at the World Trade Center and the Pentagon.