New York mayor's attendance at 9/11 ceremony sparks division among victims' families
As the 25th anniversary of the September 11 attacks approaches, some families of the victims oppose Mayor Zohran Mamdani's planned participation in the remembrance ceremony, while others call for unity.
Mayor Zohran Mamdani, New York City’s first Muslim mayor, said he will "proudly honor" the victims of the September 11 attacks by standing with families at the annual ceremony at Ground Zero. The announcement has divided some relatives of those killed. Robert Hughes, who lost his son Kris in the South Tower, told CNN he would likely skip the event if the mayor attends, saying the mayor’s presence could deter other families from coming. His wife Elaine added that the controversy and potential protests would add unwanted stress for 9/11 families.
Other relatives, such as Liz Miller, whose father was a firefighter killed on the day, expressed a desire for the ceremony to remain a unifying, non-partisan remembrance. Miller, a member of September 11 Families For Peaceful Tomorrows, said the focus should be on the victims rather than political debates.
Opponents of the mayor’s attendance have launched an online petition that has gathered tens of thousands of signatures, arguing that Mamdani’s political views on Palestinian rights and his past comments on the phrase “globalize the intifada” conflict with the solemn purpose of the event. The petition’s organizer, Giovanni Galante, said the mayor’s affiliations could “detract from the focus and cause additional pain.”
Mamdani, a democratic socialist, responded that his goal is to bring New Yorkers together and that he will not engage in division. A city spokesperson emphasized that the mayor intends to honor the families and survivors without delivering a speech. The 9/11 Memorial and Museum also reiterated its policy of keeping the ceremony free of politics, noting that officials from across the political spectrum attend only to bear witness.
City officials noted that every mayor since Rudy Giuliani has attended the ceremony, and many families expect the current mayor’s presence as a representation of the city. The ceremony will include the tolling of a bell, reading of the 2,977 victims’ names, and moments of silence, with families deciding individually whether to attend amid the ongoing debate.