Mayor Zohran Mamdani has stated he will attend New York City's annual 9/11 remembrance ceremony on Friday, proceeding despite considerable criticism from some victims' family members and several prominent Republicans who have urged him to stay away.
The controversy stems from the mayor's appointment of Ramzi Kassem as the city's chief legal counsel. Opponents have highlighted Kassem's past legal representation of an individual convicted of al-Qaeda ties, whose brother-in-law was involved in the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks.
A petition opposing the mayor's attendance, launched by relatives of 9/11 victims, has reportedly garnered nearly 100,000 signatures. Former Governor George Pataki has also publicly stated that Mamdani should not attend the event.
Mamdani has defended his commitment to honoring the victims. Last week, he signed two executive orders, one establishing Sept. 11 as an annual "Citywide Day of Remembrance and Service," and another intended to modernize the city's emergency preparedness. Kassem was present during the signing of these orders, which drew further criticism.
Mamdani is expected to be the first Muslim mayor to attend the city's official 9/11 remembrance ceremony, an event that most previous New York City mayors have participated in.
The debate intensified over the weekend when former Mayor Rudy Giuliani commented on Newsmax, stating he would find Mamdani's attendance offensive. Giuliani also made assertions that critics and others have described as unsubstantiated, including a suggestion that the mayor does not recognize the Sept. 11 attacks as acts of terrorism. Some observers have characterized Giuliani's remarks as anti-Muslim.
Speaking ahead of the New York Carnival Parade on Monday, Mayor Mamdani reiterated his intention to attend the 9/11 remembrance ceremony, emphasizing his focus would be on "the first responders who gave everything."
"I'm proud to be the mayor of this city. I love this city. I love this country. And what I want this week to be a focus on is on the families whose loved ones were stolen from them 25 years ago in the horrific act of terror of September 11th, and a focus also on the first responders who gave everything they could to this city and to the people who came together to try and help their fellow New Yorkers," Mamdani said.
When asked about Giuliani's comments, Mamdani responded, "I don't have much more to add."
Preparations for the ceremony are expected to begin later this week, involving the installation of fencing and security checkpoints at the World Trade Center site. Vice President JD Vance is slated to attend, while former President Trump is not expected to be present.