Retired Port Authority police officers have requested that New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani and Governor Kathy Hochul refrain from attending the 25th anniversary of the 9/11 commemoration at Ground Zero. The officers stated that the attendance of the two Democratic officials could cause "deep pain" to victims' families and detract from the solemnity of the event.
John McDevitt, president of the Port Authority Retired Police Association, sent letters to both officials urging them to stay away. In his letter to Mamdani, McDevitt emphasized that September 11 is not a political occasion but a day of remembrance. He expressed "profound concerns" over Mamdani's past public statements and positions, which he believes risk shifting attention away from those the ceremony is meant to honor. McDevitt pointed to a 2023 statement by Mamdani, then a New York State Assembly member, commemorating the attacks by saying "New Yorkers died on 9/11," which critics interpreted as minimizing the tragedy by not explicitly stating they were murdered. This statement has resurfaced and drawn criticism amid the current request.
McDevitt suggested that Mamdani could instead release a public statement or attend a separate event, stating, "Please allow us to remember in peace."
In the letter to Governor Hochul, McDevitt specifically cited her decision to illuminate the One World Trade Center for Muslim American Heritage Month. He described this decision as "insensitive, tone-deaf, and an affront" to 9/11 victims, arguing that it showed disregard for the sacred site and that she had "forfeited" her right to attend the commemoration.
Mamdani has not yet responded to the letter. However, Hochul's office issued a swift rejection, affirming the governor's "enormous respect for all the families who lost loved ones on 9/11" and stating she will "proudly stand alongside them at this year's commemoration." A spokesperson for the governor added that Hochul understands the contributions of Muslims as first responders and their role in uniting the city post-9/11, asserting that respect for victims can coexist with opposition to Islamophobia.
Bruce Blakeman, the Republican nominee for New York Governor, expressed his disappointment on X (formerly Twitter) that the retired officers felt compelled to ask the officials to stay away. He urged Hochul and Mamdani to listen to those who experienced the events of 9/11, calling Ground Zero sacred and emphasizing that the anniversary should focus on remembering lives lost and honoring first responders.
Mamdani had previously stated his intention to "proudly honor" the victims of the 9/11 attacks. Separately, a petition launched in July by Giovanni Galante, the husband of 9/11 victim Grace Galante, has garnered over 95,000 signatures. The petition calls for barring individuals who oppose their way of life from attending the ceremony.
Mamdani previously attended the 9/11 commemoration at Ground Zero in 2025, where he met with King Charles.
