Growing Petition Urges Mayor Zohran Mamdani to Skip Landmark 9/11 Memorial Event

The upcoming 25th anniversary of the September 11 terrorist attacks was always expected to be one of the most emotional commemorations New York City has held in decades. Instead of focusing solely on remembering the nearly 3,000 people killed in the attacks, a political controversy has emerged after thousands of family members and supporters signed a petition urging Mayor Zohran Mamdani to stay away from this year’s ceremony. The campaign has quickly gathered momentum, turning what is traditionally a solemn occasion into a heated public debate over who should be present during one of the city’s most significant annual memorial events.

Supporters of the petition argue that the anniversary should remain dedicated to victims, survivors, and first responders without becoming overshadowed by political disagreements. Mamdani, however, has rejected calls to step aside, saying he intends to attend the ceremony to honor those affected by the attacks. His response has only intensified the conversation, with survivors, advocates, and community leaders now offering sharply different opinions about whether the mayor’s presence would unite or divide those gathering to remember the lives lost on September 11, 2001.

Thousands Sign Petition Calling on Mamdani to Stay Away

The petition was launched by Giovanni Galante, who lost his wife, Grace Catherine Galante, during the attacks on the World Trade Center. Grace was just 29 years old and worked on the 105th floor of the North Tower when terrorists hijacked commercial airliners and flew them into the Twin Towers, killing thousands of innocent people in one of the deadliest attacks in American history.

Galante partnered with another woman who also lost her husband on September 11 to create the online campaign. According to the organizers, the goal is to persuade those responsible for the annual remembrance ceremony to reconsider allowing Mamdani to attend the landmark 25th anniversary event. By Tuesday morning, the petition had collected more than 23,000 signatures, reflecting growing support among many relatives of victims and others who believe the mayor should not be part of this year’s commemoration.

Explaining why he started the petition, Galante said he believes Mamdani’s attendance would be painful for many families still grieving nearly a quarter-century after the attacks.

“We felt that having Mamdani there would show a disrespect to our family members because of the people he supports,” Galante said.

The petition itself argues that the anniversary is built around honoring those who died while reaffirming the country’s rejection of the extremist ideology that led to the attacks. Organizers say concerns about Mamdani’s public positions and associations have convinced them that this year’s ceremony should proceed without his participation.

Families Say the Anniversary Should Belong to Victims

Many relatives who signed the petition describe the 25th anniversary as different from previous commemorations because of its historical significance. For families who have spent decades coping with unimaginable loss, they say the milestone represents a rare opportunity to reflect privately while honoring loved ones whose lives ended on one of the darkest days in American history.

Monica Iken Murphy, whose husband Michael worked on the 84th floor of the South Tower when the attacks occurred, is among those supporting the campaign. She said families should have space to remember those they lost without feeling distracted by ongoing political disputes or debates surrounding elected officials.

“I feel anyone who attends this 25th pivotal anniversary for us, we just want a little time for ourselves, and we don’t want someone just coming in, who just came into office, who really wasn’t there,” Murphy said.

Longtime 9/11 advocate John Feal also voiced support for families who believe the mayor should step aside. Feal, a first responder who suffered serious injuries while working at Ground Zero and spent weeks recovering in the hospital, said the anniversary should prioritize the emotional needs of victims’ relatives above everything else.

Speaking about the petition, Feal said that if Mamdani’s attendance would upset grieving families or interfere with their ability to honor loved ones, he understands why they want him to stay away. He argued that the ceremony should provide several uninterrupted hours of remembrance rather than become another source of division within the 9/11 community.

What the Petition Says About Mamdani

The petition asks organizers of the annual memorial ceremony to carefully consider whether Mamdani should participate in this year’s event. According to the document, supporters believe there are concerns surrounding the mayor’s public positions, associations, and responses to rhetoric that many perceive as hostile toward the values represented by the September 11 memorial.

Among the issues raised are Mamdani’s response to the phrase “globalize the intifada” and his associations with individuals whom petition organizers consider controversial. The petition also references concerns involving people connected to the mayor, including members of his administration and family, arguing that these relationships have contributed to distrust among some members of the 9/11 community.

The document states that the anniversary is grounded in shared American values, including respect for those who died, recognition of the attacks’ lasting impact, and rejection of the ideologies that contributed to the tragedy. Organizers argue that anyone participating in the ceremony should reflect those principles in a way that helps unite grieving families during one of the most significant remembrance events since 2001.

Mamdani Says He Will Attend Despite the Petition

Mayor Zohran Mamdani has made it clear that the growing petition will not change his plans. Asked about the campaign during an interview with CBS News New York, he said he intends to attend the 25th anniversary ceremony to honor everyone affected by the attacks, including victims’ families, survivors, and first responders.

Responding directly to the calls for him to stay away, Mamdani said the anniversary belongs to every New Yorker whose life was changed by September 11. He described the attacks as a tragedy that continues to shape the city and said his presence would be an expression of respect rather than politics.

“I will proudly honor the families, the survivors, the first responders forever impacted by that horrific terror attack by standing alongside them at this year’s 9/11 commemoration, reaffirming that we will never forget the solemn day felt by all of us who call this city home and, frankly, by all of us who called this country home,” Mamdani said.

His remarks came as the petition continued attracting new signatures online, with organizers vowing to keep pressing city officials before the anniversary arrives. While supporters of the campaign argue that the mayor has not earned a place at the ceremony, Mamdani has maintained that honoring the victims should remain the focus of the day.

Not Every Survivor Agrees With the Petition

Although the petition has received significant support, it has also exposed divisions within the wider 9/11 community. Some survivors and advocates believe excluding elected officials sets the wrong precedent and could unnecessarily politicize an event that has traditionally welcomed leaders from across the political spectrum.

Dennis McKeon, who organizes a 9/11 survivor group on Staten Island, said he understands why some families feel strongly about the issue but questioned whether banning public officials is the right approach. He noted that previous mayors and governors attended anniversary ceremonies over the past two decades despite criticism that they had done little to support victims’ families.

“There’s been mayors and governors for the past 25 years that really did nothing to help the 9/11 family members. They were never banned,” McKeon said. “We lost 29 people in our parish in St. Clare’s; that’s how I first got involved. I think everyone’s entitled to their own opinion.”

His comments illustrate how deeply personal the anniversary remains for those affected by the attacks. Even among survivors and families who experienced unimaginable loss, opinions differ over whether the ceremony should include political leaders or remain solely focused on private remembrance.

The 9/11 Memorial Says the Ceremony Is Meant to Stay Above Politics

As debate surrounding Mamdani’s attendance intensified, the National September 11 Memorial & Museum reiterated its longstanding approach to the annual ceremony. A spokesperson said organizers have consistently worked to ensure the commemoration remains free from political messaging, regardless of which elected officials are in office.

According to the museum, government officials from both major political parties have attended previous ceremonies simply to bear witness alongside grieving families and survivors. Politicians do not address the audience during the event and are instead asked to remain in a designated area throughout the proceedings.

That policy has been in place for years and is intended to preserve the ceremony’s primary purpose of remembering the 2,977 people killed during the terrorist attacks. Organizers have emphasized that the focus remains on reading the victims’ names and honoring those whose lives were forever changed by the events of September 11, 2001.

Meanwhile, organizers behind the petition say they plan to seek support from the New York City Council in hopes of increasing pressure before the anniversary ceremony takes place.

A Milestone Anniversary Already Surrounded by Debate

The 25th anniversary of the September 11 attacks was expected to be one of the largest commemorations since the tragedy occurred nearly a quarter of a century ago. For many families, the milestone represents an opportunity to reflect on decades of grief while ensuring future generations never forget what happened that day.

Instead, the weeks leading up to the ceremony have become dominated by a debate over who should be present during one of the city’s most solemn annual traditions. Supporters of the petition believe excluding Mamdani would respect the wishes of grieving families, while others argue that remembrance ceremonies should remain open to public officials regardless of political disagreements.

Whether the petition ultimately changes anything remains to be seen. What is certain is that emotions surrounding the anniversary remain as powerful today as they were years ago, underscoring how the legacy of September 11 continues to shape conversations in New York City nearly 25 years after the attacks.