Actress Patricia Heaton, who's probably best known for playing Ray's wife Debra on Everybody Loves Raymond, has joined the growing chorus of people demanding that New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani stay far away from upcoming 25th anniversary commemorations of 9/11.
As RedState previously covered, the Muslim (or is it commie?) mayor of New York isn't too popular with many of the 9/11 families, with some of them joining together to say his presence would be "unwelcome."
One family member expressed the group's feelings this way: “Our objection is based on his public record—his failure to meaningfully acknowledge the horror of that day, and his employment of, support for, or association with individuals who have minimized 9/11, defended terrorists, or even suggested America ‘deserved’ the attacks."
Entirely understandable that they wouldn't want him there. While Mamdani has never publicly endorsed the 9/11 attacks, he has suggested that FBI surveillance helped drive Anwar al-Awlaki – an American-born radical Islamic cleric who became a leading propagandist and operational figure for al-Qaeda – into the terrorist organization.
This isn't a guy who should be anywhere near Ground Zero.
There's even a Change.org petition circulating calling for him to stay away as families remember the victims with "dignity." They've collected nearly 55,000 signatures so far.
Here's a snippet from the petition:
The United States experienced the most horrific terror attack ever carried out on our shores. These carefully planned suicide attacks were perpetrated by 19 terrorists coordinated by the Islamic terrorist organization al-Qaeda.
Following this devastation, America came together in solidarity for the victims, their families, and our country. Every year, thousands of family members gather at various sites to unite in their grief. It is a solemn occasion—one that members of this unfortunate group, along with millions of others, continue to honor, remember, and use to say: never again.
It is in this spirit that we, the family members of those murdered on 9/11, write to express our concern regarding the potential inclusion of Zohran Mamdani in the 25th-year commemorative events.
This is where Patricia Heaton comes in. The actress, a conservative Catholic who is an ardent supporter of Israel, urged her followers to sign the petition.
Keep it going New Yorkers https://t.co/xBMIgWNzYG
— Patricia Heaton (@PatriciaHeaton) July 27, 2026
What some people may not know is that she was in New York City on September 11, 2001, and experienced that traumatic day up close and personal. It turns out that the entire cast of Everybody Loves Raymond was there that fateful day to promote the show’s sixth-season premiere and to celebrate that it had just gone into syndication.
Her recollection of the day is fascinating.
Heaton also explained in an Instagram post how her 9/11 experience has shaped her world view:
I happened to be in New York City on September 11, 2001 with the cast of Everybody Loves Raymond. It was a terrifying experience. It’s hard to believe now that Israel is experiencing the same horrors. It needs to end.
It's all quite personal for her.
“It’s 9/11 again and here we are. The same terrorists are back in full force, this time going after Israel, but really they’re going after all of us,” she said in a post-October 7 video. "Anyone who calls for Israel to lay down its arms, you are supporting the same people who took down the Twin Towers.”
It would be nice to see Zohran Mamdani do the decent thing and keep away, but he seems determined to be there and add to the pain of the families.
Reporter: A number of people who are survivors of 9/11 are calling on you not to go to 9/11 memorial services. I wonder how you feel about the fact that they’re trying to keep you away.
Mamdani: 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.
Like many who remember that day in vivid detail, I can't help but wonder what happened to New York City in 25 short years.
We'll let one signer of the anti-Mamdani petition have the last word: “I am incensed that a terrorist excuser is now Mayor, and outspoken sympathizer for terrorist perpetrators. He is disqualified from attending the 9/11 remembrance ceremony and ought to be barred.”
