An online petition calling for New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani to skip the 25th-anniversary commemoration of the 9/11 terrorist attacks has garnered over 23,000 signatures as of the morning of 28/7. Petitioners cite the mayor's controversial political stances as the reason for their demand, arguing his presence would be disrespectful to victims' families.

Giovanni Galante, who lost his wife, Catherine Galante, in the 9/11 attacks, co-initiated the petition. Catherine, 29, worked on the 105th floor of the north tower of the World Trade Center on 11/9/2001, the day two hijacked planes crashed into the twin towers, killing 2,753 people. "We feel that Mayor Zohran Mamdani's presence there would show disrespect to the family members, because of the people he supports," Galante stated, referring to the upcoming New York commemoration.

New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani speaks in Brooklyn on 5/7. Photo: AFP

Monica Iken Murphy, another signatory, lost her husband, Michael, 37, who worked on the 84th floor of the south tower. Murphy emphasized the importance of the milestone anniversary for families: "This 25th anniversary is very important to us, we just want some time for ourselves, and we don't want someone who just took office, who wasn't actually there." Activist John Feal echoed this sentiment, stating, "Until he does something for the 9/11 community, he should just sit in City Hall."

The petition specifically urges organizers of the 25th-anniversary commemoration to reconsider Mamdani's attendance, highlighting concerns about his political views and associations. Victims' family representatives argue that his presence would be disrespectful due to his supported positions and his connections to individuals perceived as anti-American, including his father. They point to Mamdani's "clear hesitation" to condemn slogans like "globalize the intifada", which are often linked to calls for anti-Jewish sentiment, and his perceived insufficient criticism of extremist ideologies.

However, not everyone supports the petition's stance. Some argue that preventing Mayor Mamdani from attending the ceremony is ill-advised. Dennis McKeon, a member of a 9/11 survivors group in Staten Island, noted, "Over the past 25 years, there have been mayors and governors who really did nothing to help 9/11 victim family members. They were never banned from participating."

A person commemorates 9/11 victims at a memorial ceremony in Manhattan, New York City on 11/9/2025. Photo: Reuters

In response to the petition, Mayor Mamdani affirmed his intention to attend, stating he would honor the victims' families, survivors, and those long-affected by the horrific terrorist attacks by standing with them at this year's 9/11 commemoration. A representative for the 9/11 Memorial & Museum confirmed efforts to maintain the ceremony's apolitical nature. "Government officials from all political persuasions attend the event simply to witness and commemorate," the representative stated.

Leaders of the petition group plan to appeal to the City Council for intervention. The 9/11 Memorial & Museum spokesperson further clarified that politicians attending the ceremony will not speak and will be seated in a separate area, ensuring the focus remains on remembrance.

Hoang Lan (According to CBS News, Fox News)