New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani is facing growing opposition from relatives of September 11 victims as the city prepares to mark the 25th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks.
A petition calling on Mamdani to stay away from the anniversary memorial ceremony has collected more than 102,000 signatures, and a group of 9/11 victims’ relatives delivered the petition to City Hall on September 8. Despite the pressure, Mamdani has confirmed that he plans to attend Friday’s ceremony at the National September 11 Memorial at Ground Zero.
The dispute has become one of the most politically sensitive issues surrounding this year’s anniversary. Supporters of Mamdanisay the mayor should be allowed to honor the victims and first responders, while his critics argue that his political positions and some of his appointments make his presence inappropriate at such a solemn event.
Why are 9/11 families asking Mamdani to stay away?
The opposition is not based on a single issue. Families who have publicly criticized Mamdani have pointed to his political record, his administration’s personnel choices and what they see as a lack of connection with the families who lost loved ones on September 11, 2001.
One of the most prominent concerns involves Ramzi Kassem, whom Mamdani appointed as his chief legal counsel. Kassem previously represented a detainee held at Guantánamo Bay who was accused of involvement with al-Qaeda. Critics of Mamdani’s appointment say choosing someone with that legal history was deeply troubling given the significance of the 9/11 anniversary.
Some relatives have also criticized Mamdani’s broader political positions and statements relating to Israel, Gaza and U.S. foreign policy.
However, several family members involved in the protest have specifically emphasized that their objections are about Mamdani’s policies and actions, rather than his religion or ethnic background.
Cheri Sparacio, whose husband died in the South Tower, told the New York Post that the issue was not Mamdani’s religion but what she described as his policies and current decisions.
What is behind the 102,000-signature petition?
The petition was started in July by Giovanni Galante, whose wife, Grace Catherine Galante, was killed in the attacks.
The campaign asks Mamdani not to attend the 9/11 anniversary ceremonies. By September 8, the petition had collected more than 102,000 signatures and was formally delivered to Mamdani’s City Hall office by relatives and supporters.
The size of the petition has made the dispute impossible to ignore, particularly because the 2026 ceremony marks the 25th anniversary of the attacks.
However, it is important to understand what the number means.
The 102,000-plus signatures do not establish that 102,000 9/11 family members oppose Mamdani. The petition is open to supporters more broadly. There is also no reliable public survey showing that a majority of all 9/11 victims’ relatives oppose his attendance.
At the same time, the opposition includes relatives of people who died in the attacks, making the controversy more than simply a general political protest.
Why do critics say his attendance would politicize the ceremony?
For many families, the 9/11 anniversary is fundamentally about remembering people who died, honoring survivors and recognizing the first responders who worked at Ground Zero.
Critics argue that Mamdani’s presence could shift attention away from those victims and toward political arguments surrounding the mayor.
Some families have pointed to former New York officials such as Rudy Giuliani and George Pataki, saying those leaders were closely involved with the city and victims’ families after the attacks.
The argument is essentially that the memorial ceremony should be treated as a sacred and private moment of remembrance rather than another stage for political disagreements.
Former Mayor Giuliani has also publicly urged Mamdani not to attend, although Giuliani’s comments have themselves generated controversy because of references to Mamdani’s Muslim faith and comparisons involving the 9/11 attackers.
That distinction matters because not every criticism of Mamdani’s attendance comes from the same place. Some relatives say their objection is about his policies, while other political critics have used the controversy to attack Mamdani more broadly.
Mamdani says he will attend the 9/11 ceremony
Despite the petition and criticism, Mamdani has made clear that he intends to participate in the 25th-anniversary remembrance.
The mayor has said he wants to honor the victims, survivors and first responders whose lives were permanently changed by the attacks.
Mamdani has also designated September 11 as an annual Day of Remembrance and Service in New York City. His administration has introduced measures intended to commemorate the attacks while also strengthening emergency preparedness.
The mayor’s position is that remembering 9/11 should not be turned into a political battle.
His administration has also released approximately 170,000 pages of records concerning air quality and the city’s response after the attacks, bringing renewed attention to the long-term health consequences suffered by first responders, residents and others exposed to toxic conditions around Ground Zero.
Are all 9/11 families against Mamdani?
No.
This is an important part of the story that can easily get lost in the political controversy.
Some relatives of 9/11 victims have defended Mamdani’s right to attend the memorial. The organization September 11th Families for Peaceful Tomorrows has criticized efforts to exclude him and argued that Ground Zero should not become a venue for partisan politics.
Supporters say the memorial belongs to all New Yorkers and that Mamdani, as the city’s mayor, should be able to stand with victims’ families and first responders regardless of political disagreements.
This means the controversy should not be described as a simple conflict between “9/11 families” and Mamdani. There are different views among people connected to the 9/11 community.
Mamdani’s Muslim identity has also become part of the controversy
Mamdani is New York City’s first Muslim mayor, and his religion has inevitably become part of the public debate surrounding his participation in the 9/11 anniversary.
That has created an additional layer of controversy.
Some critics have made explicit references to Islam when discussing whether Mamdani should attend. Other relatives who oppose his attendance have specifically rejected the idea that their objection is based on his religion, saying their concerns are about his policies and political decisions.
Supporters of Mamdani have accused some opponents of using the 9/11 anniversary to promote anti-Muslim sentiment.
That disagreement is likely to remain part of the national conversation as September 11 approaches.
What will happen at the 25th-anniversary ceremony?
The 2026 anniversary is particularly significant because it marks 25 years since the September 11, 2001 attacks.
The annual ceremony at the National September 11 Memorial in Lower Manhattan will focus on remembering the victims. The names of the people killed in the attacks will be read during the ceremony, and moments of silence will mark key moments from that morning.
The anniversary will also recognize people who have died from illnesses connected to their exposure to the attacks and their aftermath.
Mamdani is expected to attend but is not expected to turn the event into a political speech. His administration has repeatedly emphasized remembrance, service and support for people affected by the attacks.
Why the controversy matters
The dispute over Mamdani’s attendance reflects a much bigger debate about how America remembers September 11 a quarter-century later.
For families who lost loved ones, the anniversary remains deeply personal. Political disagreements that might seem ordinary on other days can feel profoundly inappropriate when connected to a memorial ceremony.
At the same time, New York City’s mayor is a public official with a responsibility to represent the entire city, including survivors, first responders and families affected by the attacks.
That creates an unavoidable tension.
Mamdani says he wants to attend to honor the victims. His critics say the families should have the final say over who participates in such an emotional ceremony.
The disagreement is unlikely to disappear before September 11.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why don’t some 9/11 families want Mamdani at the memorial?
Critics have cited Mamdani’s political positions, his administration’s appointment of Ramzi Kassem and concerns that his presence could politicize a ceremony intended to focus on victims and first responders.
How many people signed the petition against Mamdani?
The petition had collected more than 102,000 signatures by September 8, 2026. However, the signatures do not represent 102,000 9/11 family members.
Will Zohran Mamdani attend the 9/11 memorial?
Yes. Mamdani has confirmed that he plans to attend the 25th-anniversary ceremony at the National September 11 Memorial in New York City.
Do all 9/11 families oppose Mamdani?
No. Some relatives and organizations representing 9/11 families have defended Mamdani’s participation and argued that the memorial should not be used for partisan political exclusion.
Why is the 2026 ceremony especially important?
September 11, 2026, marks the 25th anniversary of the 2001 terrorist attacks, making this year’s remembrance one of the most significant anniversary ceremonies since the attacks.
Final Thoughts
The controversy over Zohran Mamdani’s attendance at the 25th-anniversary 9/11 memorial is ultimately about more than one mayor.
It raises difficult questions about who should participate in national remembrance, how political disagreements should be handled at memorial ceremonies and how New York should remember one of the darkest days in its history.
A large petition and vocal group of victims’ relatives are asking Mamdani to stay away. Other 9/11 family members say he should be allowed to attend. Mamdani has chosen to attend, saying his purpose is to honor the victims, survivors and first responders.
As New York approaches September 11, the focus will ultimately return to the people whose lives were lost and forever changed by the attacks.