New York City families who lost loved ones on September 11 are demanding Mayor Zohran Mamdani be kept away from the 25th anniversary ceremony at Ground Zero, calling him an “unwelcome guest.”
Story Snapshot
- A Change.org petition from 9/11 families has topped 1,100 signatures, including at least 300 from victims’ families.
- Petitioners say Mamdani has failed to clearly condemn “globalize the intifada” rhetoric.
- The petition cites writings by Mamdani’s father comparing America to al-Qaeda after 9/11.
- Mamdani’s past praise for a Brooklyn imam tied to the “Blind Sheikh” case adds to family concerns.
- No formal decision from the 9/11 Memorial & Museum on his attendance has been announced.
Families Demand Exclusion From Ground Zero Ceremony
Family members of those murdered on September 11 launched a petition asking organizers to keep Mayor Mamdani away from the 25th anniversary ceremony. The New York Post reported the petition gathered more than 1,100 signatures in just over a week, with at least 300 coming directly from victims’ families. Giovanni Galante, husband of victim Grace Catherine Galante, said Mamdani’s “public history” and associations raise real questions about his fitness to attend.
The petition does not ask for a lawsuit or a government ruling. It simply asks organizers to weigh whether Mamdani’s presence fits the ceremony’s purpose. That purpose, the petition states, is honoring “shared American values: respect for the victims” and the recognition of what happened that day.
Petition Cites Radical Rhetoric And Troubling Associations
The petition points to Mamdani’s reluctance to clearly condemn the phrase “globalize the intifada,” a slogan many Americans associate with calls for violence against Israel and its allies. It also flags his past association with Twitch streamer Hasan Piker, who once said “America deserved” the September 11 attacks. A 9/11 responder’s wife publicly blasted that connection last year.
Earlier reporting from the New York Post documented a separate family member criticizing Mamdani over the same Piker relationship months before this petition surfaced. That pattern suggests concerns about Mamdani’s associations did not start with this petition. They have built over more than a year of public scrutiny tied directly to the anniversary of the attacks.
Father’s Writings And Imam Praise Fuel Distrust
The petition leans heavily on writings attributed to Mamdani’s father, who reportedly wrote shortly after 9/11 that suicide bombers should be “understood as a feature of modern political violence” rather than condemned as barbaric, and suggested a moral equivalence between America and al-Qaeda. Petitioners argue this family history, paired with Mamdani’s own record, paints a troubling picture for a mayor overseeing sacred remembrance ground.
Petitioners also cite Mamdani’s praise of Brooklyn Imam Siraj Wahhaj, whom critics have long linked to radical Islam. Wahhaj served as a character witness for the “Blind Sheikh,” Omar Abdel-Rahman, convicted in the 1993 World Trade Center bombing plot. Family members say honoring someone who praised Wahhaj feels like a direct insult to what Ground Zero represents.
Mamdani’s Response And The Unanswered Questions
Mamdani has not issued a direct public response addressing every claim in the petition. The New York Post reported separately that he has posted nearly identical tribute messages honoring the nearly 3,000 victims each year since 2019, which supporters say shows consistent respect rather than dismissal. Critics counter that boilerplate posts do not answer specific questions about his associations and past remarks.
Mamdani also faced earlier criticism over a story about a family member’s fear of wearing a hijab after 9/11. He later clarified he meant his father’s cousin, not the closer relative some assumed. That clarification shows Mamdani has engaged some criticism directly, even as bigger questions about his rhetoric remain unresolved.
What Happens Next At Ground Zero
No organizer, including the 9/11 Memorial & Museum, has issued a formal statement deciding whether Mamdani will attend the 25th anniversary ceremony. That silence leaves families frustrated and the public debate playing out in petitions, protests, and press coverage instead of a clear, transparent decision.
BREAKING: Families of 9/11 victims are calling to bar Zohran Mamdani from the 25th anniversary ceremony at Ground Zero, calling him an “unwelcome guest.” pic.twitter.com/wWplngFWYd
— Eyal Yakoby (@EYakoby) July 25, 2026
Families losing loved ones on 9/11 deserve a straight answer, not political dodging dressed up as inclusion. If Mamdani wants to prove his critics wrong, he should release full context on every quote in question rather than let boilerplate tweets speak for him.
Sources:
redstate.com, nydailynews.com, nypost.com, cnn.com, dailywire.com
