The 25th anniversary of 9/11 is just over a month away, and the families of those murdered in the World Trade Center are making plans for a dignified remembrance of their loved ones on this painful and solemn occasion.
There's just one problem: New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani insists on being there despite the growing chorus from the families telling him to stay far away. They'd rather not have a practicing Muslim and avowed socialist mar the day that belongs to them and their memories – feelings that are completely understandable.
Here's what I wrote about this a few days back in a VIP article:
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.
It's important to note there are several ceremonies in the works, including a slate of events sponsored the New York City government and the big one at Ground Zero where the families gather and the names of the fallen are read. While Mamdani, in theory, has the right to be at the former, he seems determined to also be at the latter. He wants his smug face all over the event, even if it means additional pain for the families on an already horrific day.
A petition started by the families, who are encouraging all interested parties to sign on, has garnered nearly 67,000 signatures so far. The petition raises concerns about Mamdani's "public positions, associations, and responses to rhetoric" that appear antithetical to the goals of the 9/11 remembrance.
This anniversary is one of remembrance grounded in shared American values: respect for the victims, recognition of the gravity of the attacks, and a clear rejection of the ideologies that contributed to such violence. For many families and community members, participation in these ceremonies carries an implicit expectation that those present uphold and affirm these principles without ambiguity.
Concerns have been raised about Mr. Mamdani’s public positions, associations, and responses to rhetoric that many perceive as hostile to these shared values.
Despite the clear animus from the families towards the mayor, he's insistent on standing amongst them on the 25th anniversary.
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.
If Mamdani does show up and try to steal the show, the families have a plan: they will turn their backs to him en masse to return the disrespect being shown them and their loved ones by his presence.
More 9/11 families urge defiant Mamdani to stay home for 25th memorial ceremony: Here are their stories https://t.co/gDlH4aOF4l pic.twitter.com/4sgROUZhgu
— New York Post (@nypost) August 1, 2026
“They don’t want to look at him,” said petition organizer Giovanni Galante, whose 29-year-old wife Grace was killed on 9/11.
And it's not just the families who are getting in on the petition action. Tom Van Essen, who was city fire commissioner on 9/11 and lost a lot of friends that day, was enthusiastic about the efforts to keep Mamdani away, saying of the petition, “Yes I signed it — I can’t wait to hit him with a snowball in his phony face!”
Editor’s Note: New York City is now facing the consequences of Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s socialist takeover.
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