Jakarta, ThedailyID — New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani will attend the 25th anniversary ceremony marking the September 11, 2001 attacks despite opposition from some victims’ families.
An online petition calling for Mamdani to stay away from 9/11 memorial events has attracted more than 100,000 signatures. Families delivered the petition to Mamdani at City Hall on September 8.
The petition was started by Giovanni Galante, whose wife, Grace Catherine Galante, died in the World Trade Center attacks. Galante said some families believe Mamdani’s presence would disrespect those who died.
“We felt that having Mamdani there would show a disrespect to our family members because of the people he supports,” Galante said, according to CBS News, Friday, September 11, 2026
The families’ objections center on Mamdani’s political positions and associations. They have also criticized his appointment of Ramzi Kassem as chief counsel. Kassem previously represented a defendant accused of links to al-Qaeda, according to the New York Post.
Mamdani has rejected calls for him to stay away. He said he intends to attend the ceremony to honor victims, survivors and first responders.
“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,” Mamdani said.
He has also taken several steps to mark the anniversary. On September 4, Mamdani established September 11 as New York City’s official Day of Remembrance and Service. The designation includes moments of silence and community service activities.
“I am honored to establish the City’s first Day of Remembrance and Service on September 11th to remember those we lost on that horrific day,” Mamdani said.
On September 9, he also attended the unveiling of a new NYPD 9/11 memorial at One Police Plaza. He described it as an honor to stand alongside the families of those killed in the attacks and those who died from related illnesses.
The dispute has not united all 9/11 families against Mamdani. Some relatives have defended his participation and argued that the anniversary should remain focused on remembrance rather than political divisions.
The 25th anniversary ceremony will take place as New York continues to commemorate the nearly 3,000 people killed in the attacks and the thousands of first responders, survivors and others affected in the years since.
