NYC Mayor Mamdani Defies 9/11 Families, Attends Memorial Despite Outrage Over Al-Qaeda Lawyer Appointment
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Mayor Zohran Mamdani plans to attend the 25th-anniversary 9/11 remembrance ceremony at Ground Zero, ignoring a petition from 110,000 victims' relatives who are outraged by his appointment of Ramzi Kassem, a former al-Qaeda defense lawyer, as the city’s chief legal counsel.
Mayor Zohran Mamdani will attend the annual 9/11 remembrance ceremony at Ground Zero on Friday, an invitation-only event organized by the 9/11 Memorial & Museum and attended by former presidents and the vice president. This comes as a slap in the face to the roughly 110,000 relatives of 9/11 victims who have signed a petition urging the mayor to stay away, citing his shocking decision to appoint Ramzi Kassem—who previously defended convicted al-Qaeda terrorist Ahmed al-Darbi—as the city’s chief legal counsel.
The petition, a powerful statement from grieving families, argues that the presence of individuals linked to the attacks undermines the solemnity and unity of the day. Outrage grew after Mamdani handed a ceremonial pen, used for signing 9/11-related executive orders, to NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch for delivery to Kassem—a gesture many see as deeply insensitive and disrespectful to the memory of those lost.
"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, attempting to shift the focus to first responders, but failing to address the real concerns of the families.
Former New York Governor George Pataki and former mayor Rudy Giuliani, both Republicans who led the city with strength after 9/11, have joined the petitioners in demanding Mamdani stay away. Giuliani, who has personal ties to many of the families, said the invitation 'offends' him, reflecting the widespread anger at Mamdani’s actions.
Mamdani has also faced criticism for his radical past comments and associations, including refusing to denounce a controversial phrase, praising a co-conspirator in the 1993 World Trade Center bombing, and associating with streamer Hasan Piker, known for anti-American rhetoric. The mayor’s office did not respond to a request for comment, continuing a pattern of evasion and disregard for public outrage.