New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani's attendance at the 9/11 remembrance ceremony at Ground Zero has sparked criticism from some victims' families and former officials who urged him to stay away. A petition signed by over 110,000 individuals called for the mayor to skip the event.
Mourners expressed their disappointment, with some calling Mamdani's presence "disrespectful" and "very offensive." Walter Matuza, whose father died in the attacks, stated that Mamdani "probably should have skipped it." Matuza cited the mayor's past associations with streamer Hasan Piker, who made controversial remarks about 9/11, and the appointment of Ramzi Kassem as chief counsel. Kassem previously represented a Guantánamo detainee linked to an al-Qaeda plot.
"He showed up anyway. It does bother us," Matuza told Fox News Digital. He added that the mayor could have handled the appointment of Kassem differently. Another attendee, Steven, who traveled from Florida, echoed these sentiments, describing Kassem's appointment as "hideous" and criticizing what he perceives as the spread of "incorrect information" about the attacks to younger generations.
Mike, a former New Jersey police officer who responded to the scene on 9/11, also suggested Mamdani should have abstained from the ceremony due to past rhetoric and the appointment of Kassem. "Based on the rhetoric that he's used in the past. Yeah, he probably should have skipped it," Mike said.
Despite the criticism, some attendees felt Mamdani had a right to be present. John, who lost friends in the attacks, said he was "fine" with the mayor attending as long as he remained respectful to those being remembered. Mamdani was observed greeting former Mayor Rudolph Giuliani during the ceremony.
In response to the backlash, Mamdani issued a statement expressing pride in New York and love for the city and country. He stated his intention for the week to focus on the families of victims and the first responders. The mayor was photographed with First Gentleman William Hochul Jr. and New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill at the event.