Families of 9/11 victims, first responders, and elected officials have one message for New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani regarding the 25th anniversary ceremonies: “We do not want you to come.”
BREAKING: 9/11 families have gathered in NYC, demanding that Zohran Mamdani not attend.
“We do not want you to come.” pic.twitter.com/Ujtj4yvMXr
— Eyal Yakoby (@EYakoby) September 8, 2026
New York City Council Member Vickie Paladino and the families plan to deliver a petition with over 100,000 signatures against Mamdani’s appearance before the Friday service.
Giovanni Galante, who lost his wife in the terrorist attack, organized the petition, which “asks that the sacred anniversary remain a solemn, distraction-free day of mourning rather than a backdrop for political presence.”
“We don’t believe in what he believes in, and we really want us to be left alone,” explained Galante. “This 25th anniversary is for victims and survivors to blend in and pray that day for all the families — not have a circus around us.”
From Fox News:
“This mayor is not serving us,” Charles Wolf, who lost his wife on 9/11, said at a noon news conference. “He’s serving himself. We are asking respectfully that he not show up.”
“Even though there is going to be other politicians there, these are the politicians that helped us push beneficial laws through and literally held our hand during that time,” Wolf continued. “Mayor Mamdani has not shown any of that, none of it. He just wants to be there because he wants to be there.”
“So we are asking him to respect the fact that that trauma is revived during the ceremony. It is a private ceremony. It is not a public ceremony. Mayor Mamdani, please do not come.”
The stance has nothing to do with Mamdani’s faith or background, but his actions:
Cheri Sparacio, whose husband, Tom, was killed in the South Tower, said the petition was not about the mayor’s background or faith, but his public actions. She noted Mamdani’s appointment of chief counsel Ramzi Kassem — who previously represented individuals accused of terror ties — and his past ties to figures who have downplayed terror threats.
“That is what we object to,” she said.
Unfortunately, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul confirmed Mamdani will attend:
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul confirms Mayor Zohran Mamdani will attend the city’s 9/11 remembrance ceremony despite backlash and calls from some victims’ families for him to stay away.
Hochul urged unity ahead of the 25th anniversary, saying New Yorkers should come together to… pic.twitter.com/FhE756YC17
— Fox News (@FoxNews) September 8, 2026
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