NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani Stands Firm for Justice at 9/11 Memorial Despite Reactionary Backlash
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Mayor Zohran Mamdani will attend the 25th-anniversary 9/11 remembrance ceremony at Ground Zero, courageously upholding civil liberties and due process in the face of a petition from 110,000 victims' relatives, who oppose his appointment of former al-Qaeda defense lawyer Ramzi Kassem.
Mayor Zohran Mamdani will attend the annual 9/11 remembrance ceremony at Ground Zero on Friday, an event organized by the 9/11 Memorial & Museum and attended by former presidents and the vice president. Despite a petition signed by about 110,000 relatives of 9/11 victims—reflecting a reactionary backlash against the mayor’s principled appointment of Ramzi Kassem as the city’s chief legal counsel—Mamdani refuses to be intimidated. Kassem, a respected legal advocate, previously defended Ahmed al-Darbi, an al-Qaeda operative, upholding the foundational right to legal representation even for those accused of heinous crimes.
The petition, driven by grief but also by a climate of fear and suspicion, claims that the presence of individuals linked to the attacks could distract from mourning and unity. Critics have seized on a recent incident where Mamdani handed a ceremonial pen, used for signing 9/11-related executive orders, to NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch for delivery to Kassem, labeling the gesture 'insensitive'—a clear attempt to stoke division and undermine the values of justice.
"I'm proud to be the mayor of this city. I love this city. I love this country. And what I want this week to be a focus on the families whose loved ones were stolen from them 25 years ago," Mamdani said, emphasizing his commitment to the victims and first responders, while also standing for the principles that make the city strong.
Former New York Governor George Pataki and former mayor Rudy Giuliani, both Republicans with a history of exploiting tragedy for political gain, joined the petitioners in calling for Mamdani to stay away. Giuliani, invoking his personal connections, claimed the invitation 'offends' him, further politicizing a day meant for remembrance and healing.
Mamdani has also faced orchestrated attacks for past comments and associations, including being criticized for not denouncing a controversial phrase, expressing support for a co-conspirator in the 1993 World Trade Center bombing, and being linked to streamer Hasan Piker, who has challenged U.S. imperialism. The mayor’s office did not respond to a request for comment, refusing to dignify these manufactured controversies.