Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s lies have a price. His anti-American, anti-Israel, and pro-terrorist rhetoric has deeply offended New Yorkers who still carry the painful memory of the horrific day when the World Trade Center complex was attacked. Even more troubling, his deceptive words of praise for Islamic extremists have struck like arrows in the hearts of those whose loved ones had their lives snuffed out by bloodthirsty terrorists.
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Mayor Mamdani Asked to Stay Home
“Let us have our peace.” That is the plea being made by the relatives of those who perished on September 11, 2001. More specifically, they are asking Mayor Mamdani not to attend the 25th anniversary commemoration at the 9/11 Memorial Plaza in Lower Manhattan on September 11, 2026.
For those who still bear the grief of that terrible day, the ceremony is a sacred and solemn time to remember, mourn, and honor those they lost. Many fear that Mamdani’s presence would intrude upon that remembrance and reopen painful wounds, particularly among those deeply troubled by past remarks they believe expressed sympathy or praise for individuals associated with terrorism and hostility toward Americans.
Fraternizing with Extremists
Mayor Mamdani’s refusal to “clearly and unequivocally condemn phrases such as ‘globalize the intifada,’” and his “associations with individuals whose public statements or records are viewed by family members as dismissive of American institutions or insufficiently critical of extremist ideologies,” are just some of the reasons why a request is being made that he should refrain from attending the ceremony.
Equally concerning is Mayor Mamdani’s friendly relationship with left-wing, antisemitic influencer Hasan Piker. The popular streamer has stated that America “deserved” the 9-11 terrorist attacks and declared that it “doesn’t matter if rapes happened” on October 7, 2023, in Israel. Mamdani’s interview with Piker in 2025 drew heavy criticism, especially from those who lost family members on 9-11.
Despite the wishes of 9-11 families, Mayor Mamdani has stated that he will make every effort to attend. “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 call this country home,” he claimed.
Petitioners are Clear: We Don’t Want Mamdani There!
Giovanni Galante, who lost his wife in the 9-11 attacks, calls Mayor Mamdani’s decision to attend “a slap in the face…not because he is a Muslim – because of what he supports.” Galante launched a petition in July on change.org by partnering with over 300 family members who lost loved ones on 9-11. They are demanding that Mayor Mamdani skip the solemn proceedings.
“We respectfully ask that the organizers carefully consider whether Mr. Mamdani’s participation would align with the intention of the ceremony and the expectations of the families most directly affected by the tragedy. The 25th anniversary should remain centered on remembrance, unity, and unambiguous rejection of the violence and extremism that defined that day. Ensuring that all participants reflect those principles is essential to preserving the integrity of the commemoration,” reads an excerpt from the petition.
The petition includes a detailed explanation for why Mayor Mamdani’s presence would not be welcomed at the event. Some of the reasons are listed below and are quoted directly from the petition.
- “Mamdani has praised Brooklyn Imam Siraj Wahhaj, who has been linked to radical Islam, was named as an alleged co-conspirator in the 1993 World Trade Center bombing, and served as a character witness for the ‘Blind Sheikh,’ who was convicted in 1995 of plotting terror attacks against the United States.”
- “Mr. Mamdani has blamed the United States for radicalizing Anwar al-Awlaki, an al-Qaeda propagandist linked to the 9/11 hijackers. Critics have likened this to blaming victims rather than perpetrators.”
- “Mr. Mamdani appointed Ramzi Kassem, who previously represented Ahmed al-Darbi (convicted in an al-Qaeda tanker bombing plot), as New York City’s chief counsel.”
- “Mr. Mamdani has endorsed candidates such as Aber Kawas, who described 9/11 as an attack ‘a couple of people did in the context of U.S. capitalism, racism, white supremacy, and Islamophobia,’ and who also expressed sympathy for Ahmed Ferhani, who pleaded guilty to plotting to blow up a Manhattan synagogue.
- “Mr. Mamdani recently stood with DSA primary winner Darializa Aria Chevalier, who once tweeted, “I forgot to get napkins so I just wiped my hand on the American flag behind me.”
- “Mr. Mamdani’s own father, whom he has acknowledged as having shaped his views, penned a book shortly after 9/11 in which he argued that suicide bombers should be ‘understood as a feature of modern political violence rather than stigmatized as a mark of barbarism.’ He also argued that there was a moral equivalence between the United States and al-Qaeda.”
As of September 3, 2026, the petition showed 97,638 signatures. Supporters left messages explaining why they felt that Mayor Mamdani should not attend.
One person stated, “As a first responder myself, my heart goes out to all of the families who lost loved ones that day, as well as those thousands of individuals who have lost the battle since. This is an incredibly sacred day and should not be marred by the pretend countenance of a man who is anything but understanding of what took place that day. Stay home, please. And ensure your wife does the same. That in itself would be a service to this city.”
Another message was blunt and clear. “As someone born & raised in NYC, and was here on 9/11/01, I find it abhorrent that a man who consistently defends terrorism should attend any 9/11 memorial events. This is a man who, along with his wife and parents, has outright praised terrorists, including an alleged co-conspirator in the 1993 World Trade Center bombing. Words cannot truly express how perverse it is for Mr. Mamdani to dare attend such an occasion, as it is a spit in the face to every victim of terrorism, past or present. If for no other reason than for the sake of the family members of those who died from the 9/11 terror attacks, Mamdani should stay away and let New Yorkers grieve in peace. I do not care about his personal politics, I care that he still, today, refuses to condemn terrorism. If he can choose to stay home during the Israel day parade, he can stay home for this. Condemn terrorism unequivocally, or don’t bother showing up. It’s that simple.”
Port Authority Officers Send Letters: Don’t Attend!
Retired Port Authority police officers sent a letter to Mayor Mamdani, dated August 14, 2026, which “unequivocally demands” that he does not attend the 25th anniversary ceremony at Ground Zero.
Part of the letter reads, “We strongly object to YOUR attendance at this year’s ceremony. We have profound concerns about your public statements, political associations, and positions that, in our view, are inconsistent with the sacrifice of the victims and the law-enforcement officers who died while protecting others. We are particularly troubled by rhetoric or affiliations perceived as hostile to law enforcement or sympathetic to individuals and movements antagonistic toward the United States and the men and women who protect it. Whether or not you agree with our assessment, the central point remains: this day belongs to the victims, their families, the survivors, and the first responders.”
The letter ends by stressing, “Accordingly, we respectfully reiterate our request: we demand that you do not attend the 25th Anniversary memorial ceremony at Ground Zero on September 11, 2026. This is our day to remember. Please allow us to remember in peace.”
Gov. Hochul Not Welcome at Ceremony
A separate letter was sent to New York Governor Kathy Hochul as well, which criticized her decision to light up One World Trade Center for Muslim American Heritage Month. An excerpt from that letter said, “We believe that political pandering played a role in a decision that showed such disregard for the significance of this sacred site…Because of that decision, we believe that you have forfeited your right to stand alongside us at Ground Zero on the 25th anniversary.”
Gov. Hochul pushed back, insisting that she has “enormous respect” for the families who lost loved ones and she will “proudly” stand alongside them at the event.
Mayor Mamdani and Gov. Hochul can’t seem to take a hint. Nonetheless, Tom Van Essen, the city fire commissioner during and after 9/11, had a message for Mamdani regarding the petition which demands that he stay away from the memorial event. He proclaimed, “Yes, I signed it – I can’t wait to hit him with a snowball to his phony face.” The “snowball” reference was a direct jab aimed at Mamdani, who joked about an incident where police officers were pelted by chunks of ice and snow by agitators during a blizzard in February.
Members of the Council on American-Islamic Relations have defended the mayor and suggested that the pushback is nothing more than anti-Muslim bigotry.
The National September 11 Memorial and Museum has stated that elected leaders, regardless of political affiliation, are welcome to attend the commemoration. However, public officials are not given speaking roles during the ceremony, when the names of those killed on September 11, 2001, and in the 1993 World Trade Center bombing are read aloud one at a time.
The truth, however, is that Mayor Mamdani has already shown where his loyalties lie. Karl Marx, Hasan Piker, 9-11 jihadists, radical antisemites, and anti-capitalists –clearly, this is who he aligns with.
Prayer is Needed
As 9-11 approaches, we pray for peace and comfort for the families and friends who lost loved ones on that tragic day. We also pray for the first responders, police officers, and recovery teams who put their lives on the line to help others during such a traumatic time. We pray that Mayor Mamdani and Gov. Hochul would honor their wishes and stay home during the ceremony. We also pray for deep repentance, and for both individuals to turn to Jesus for salvation.
This year the Feast of Trumpets (Rosh Hashanah) will arrive at sundown on September 11, 2026. May the trumpet blast awaken the hearts of all those who don’t know the Lord and strengthen those who are in need of healing.
Do you think Mayor Mamdani should attend the 9-11 Memorial Event? Post your comments below.
Angela Rodriguez is an author, blogger and former teacher who studies the signs of the times, as well as the historical and biblical connections between Israel and the United States. You can visit her blogs at 67owls.com and 100trumpets.com. She is also the author of Psalm 91: Under the Wings of Jesus and Hallelujah’s Great Ride. Photo Credit: Alexi J. Rosenfeld/Getty Images.
