FAMILIES OBJECT: Hundreds of 9/11 Families Urge NYC Mayor Mamdani Be Barred From Memorial Ceremony

More than 1,100 people — including at least 300 family members of victims killed in the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks — have signed a petition calling for New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani to be barred from attending this year’s 25th anniversary memorial ceremony at Ground Zero.

The petition’s organizers argue that Mamdani’s presence would dishonor the nearly 3,000 victims and deeply offend their families. They cite his past refusal to condemn the phrase “globalize the intifada,” as well as alleged associations with individuals they say have minimized or defended terrorism.

The petition was organized by Giovanni Galante, whose wife, Grace Catherine Galante, was killed in the attacks. He said the annual memorial is “a sacred event for the families,” not a political gathering, and argued that Mamdani’s attendance would be inappropriate.

Monica Iken Murphy, a co-founder of the National September 11 Memorial & Museum whose husband, Michael, was killed in the attacks, said the issue is about respecting victims’ families rather than politics. She argued that only elected officials who have been involved in the memorial process over the years should participate in the ceremony.

The National September 11 Memorial & Museum said it remains committed to keeping the annual commemoration free from politics. The organization noted that sitting presidents, governors, and mayors have traditionally attended the ceremony but do not deliver remarks and remain in a designated area.

A spokesman for Mamdani said the mayor intends to attend as planned “to honor the families, survivors, and first responders whose lives were forever changed by the devastating attacks,” and to reaffirm the city’s commitment to never forgetting September 11.

Mamdani has issued annual statements commemorating the attacks and honoring the victims and first responders. In recent years, he has also spoken publicly about his family’s experiences with anti-Muslim discrimination following 9/11, comments that have drawn criticism from some political opponents.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)