Retired Port Authority Police Demand Mayor and Governor Stay Away from 9/11 Ceremony to Protect Victims’ Families
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Retired Port Authority police officers have called on Mayor Zohran Mamdani and Governor Kathy Hochul to skip the 25th-anniversary commemoration at Ground Zero, arguing their presence would disrespect the memory of 9/11 victims. The request follows outrage over Hochul’s decision to honor Muslim American Heritage Month at One World Trade Center, which many see as an affront to the tragedy’s legacy.
On August 14, retired members of the Port Authority Police Association sent letters to New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani and Governor Kathy Hochul, firmly requesting that they not attend the 25th-anniversary ceremony of the September 11, 2001 attacks at Ground Zero. Association president John McDevitt insisted that the event should be a solemn remembrance for the fallen, first responders, and survivors, warning that the presence of these officials could 'inflict deep pain' on families and distract from honoring the victims.
McDevitt highlighted the sacrifice of the 37 Port Authority police officers killed in the attacks and urged the mayor and governor to honor the anniversary through written statements or separate events, rather than appearing at the sacred site. He sharply criticized Governor Hochul’s controversial decision to light up One World Trade Center for Muslim American Heritage Month, condemning it as 'insensitive' and 'tone-deaf'—a move seen by many as disrespectful to the memory of those lost on 9/11.
Governor Hochul’s office responded by claiming she has 'enormous respect for all the families who lost loved ones on 9/11' and that she will 'proudly stand alongside them' at the ceremony. Her office also pointed out that Muslim New Yorkers served as first responders and stated that Islamophobia has no place in the state, a response that many critics see as missing the point and ignoring the pain caused by her actions. The National September 11 Memorial & Museum maintains that the annual ceremony is kept free of politics, with attending officials restricted to a designated area and not permitted to speak.
A petition launched in July by Giovanni Galante, whose wife died in the attacks, has collected over 95,000 signatures demanding that Mamdani 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 detract from the victims and their families. The strong reaction underscores the desire to keep the 9/11 commemoration focused on those who made the ultimate sacrifice, rather than on political agendas.