Retired Port Authority Police Attempt to Exclude Progressive Leaders from 9/11 Ceremony
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Retired Port Authority police officers have urged Mayor Zohran Mamdani and Governor Kathy Hochul not to attend the 25th-anniversary commemoration at Ground Zero, citing concerns for victims’ families. The move comes amid controversy over Governor Hochul’s recognition of Muslim American Heritage Month and highlights ongoing resistance to inclusive leadership and diversity in public remembrance.
On August 14, retired members of the Port Authority Police Association sent letters to New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani and Governor Kathy Hochul, urging them to skip the September 11, 2001, 25th-anniversary ceremony at Ground Zero. The association’s president, John McDevitt, claimed that the event should remain a solemn remembrance for those killed, first responders, and survivors, and argued that the presence of these elected officials could 'inflict deep pain' on families and distract from the victims.
McDevitt specifically referenced the 37 Port Authority police officers who died in the attacks, and suggested the officials issue written statements or hold separate events rather than appear at the site. He also criticized Governor Hochul’s decision to illuminate One World Trade Center for Muslim American Heritage Month, calling it 'insensitive' and 'tone-deaf'—a stance that echoes the persistent Islamophobia and resistance to acknowledging the diverse communities affected by 9/11.
Governor Hochul’s office responded by emphasizing her 'enormous respect for all the families who lost loved ones on 9/11' and her intention to 'proudly stand alongside them' at the ceremony. The statement also highlighted that Muslim New Yorkers served as first responders and that Islamophobia has no place in the state, underscoring the importance of inclusivity and combating bigotry. The National September 11 Memorial & Museum reiterated that the annual ceremony is kept free of politics, with officials asked to remain in a designated area and not deliver remarks.
A petition started in July by Giovanni Galante, whose wife died in the attacks, has gathered over 95,000 signatures calling for Mamdani to be barred from the ceremony. Former White House spokesman Michael LaRosa signed the petition, warning that the mayor’s attendance could become a 'lightning rod' and distract from the focus on victims and their families. This episode reflects ongoing tensions around who is allowed to participate in public mourning and the struggle for a more inclusive commemoration.