9/11 Families’ Petition Calls on Mayor Zohran Mamdani to Stay Away From 25th Anniversary Ceremony

Some relatives of September 11 victims say the mayor’s presence at Ground Zero would be deeply offensive. Mamdani says he will attend to honor the victims, survivors and first responders.

A petition organized by relatives of people killed in the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks is calling on New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani not to attend the 25th anniversary remembrance ceremony at Ground Zero.

The campaign has become the latest flashpoint in the continuing dispute over Mamdani’s political record, public statements and relationships with controversial activists.

The petition does not represent an official ban. As of publication, neither the National September 11 Memorial & Museum nor the City of New York has announced that Mamdani will be excluded from the September 11, 2026 commemoration.

Mamdani has stated that he intends to attend.

Families Describe Ground Zero as Sacred Ground

The petition was initiated by members of the 9/11 community, including Giovanni Galante, whose wife, Grace, was killed in the attacks.

Its organizers argue that the annual ceremony belongs first to the families of the nearly 3,000 people murdered on September 11—not to elected officials seeking a political platform.

They describe Mamdani as an “unwelcome guest” and contend that his presence could turn a solemn commemoration into a divisive political event.

CBS News New York confirmed that relatives of victims had launched the petition asking Mamdani not to attend the anniversary ceremony.

The controversy was also discussed on Fox Business, where commentators strongly supported the families’ position and repeatedly described Ground Zero as sacred ground rather than a stage for politicians.

What the Petition Alleges

The campaign cites several aspects of Mamdani’s public record.

Among the principal objections is his past response to the slogan “Globalize the Intifada.” Critics interpret the phrase as endorsing or normalizing political violence, while some pro-Palestinian activists argue that it refers more broadly to resistance against Israeli policies.

Petition supporters also point to Mamdani’s associations with controversial public figures, including political commentator Hasan Piker, who previously made the inflammatory statement that “America deserved 9/11.”

The petition’s organizers argue that Mamdani has not sufficiently distanced himself from individuals or rhetoric they view as hostile to the United States and offensive to the families of terrorism victims.

These are political accusations made by petition organizers and the mayor’s critics. They do not establish that Mamdani supported the September 11 attacks or participated in terrorism.

Mamdani Says He Will Attend

Mamdani has rejected demands that he stay away.

Speaking at a July 2026 press event, the mayor said:

“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.”

He added that his attendance would reaffirm New York City’s commitment to never forgetting the attack and its lasting consequences.

The mayor’s position is that attending the ceremony is part of his official responsibility as New York City’s chief executive and an opportunity to honor those who were killed, injured or permanently affected.

Earlier in 2026, Mamdani joined FDNY Commissioner Lillian Bonsignore and other city officials for an official visit to the 9/11 Memorial & Museum ahead of the anniversary.

Who Controls the Ceremony?

The central remembrance ceremony is organized by the National September 11 Memorial & Museum.

The institution has presented the 25th anniversary as a commemoration focused on loss, courage, compassion, service and the experiences of the victims’ families.

The 2026 ceremony will include the traditional reading of the victims’ names and moments of silence marking the attacks and the collapse of the World Trade Center towers.

For the 25th anniversary, the memorial has also added a seventh moment of silence honoring those who later died from illnesses connected to toxic exposure following the attacks.

Nothing in the memorial’s publicly available announcements indicates that Mamdani has been formally prohibited from attending.

A Dispute Over Memory, Office and Political Speech

The controversy raises a difficult question: Should an elected mayor attend a major civic commemoration when some victims’ families believe his presence would dishonor the event?

Those supporting the petition argue that the wishes of the families should take priority. They say the ceremony is not an ordinary municipal function but an intensely personal gathering for people who lost spouses, parents, children, siblings, colleagues and friends.

Mamdani’s defenders may argue that the mayor represents the entire city and that excluding a duly elected official because of disputed political views could itself politicize the commemoration.

The issue is therefore not simply whether Mamdani has a legal right to attend. It is whether exercising that right is appropriate when a visible group of victims’ relatives has asked him to stay away.

The 25th Anniversary Carries Special Significance

September 11, 2026 will mark a quarter-century since al-Qaeda terrorists hijacked four commercial aircraft and carried out the deadliest foreign terrorist attack in American history.

The 9/11 Memorial & Museum says the anniversary will provide an opportunity for a new generation to learn about the scale of the loss, the bravery of first responders and the acts of compassion that followed the attacks.

For many families, however, the ceremony is not primarily a historical or political event. It remains a funeral without an ending.

That explains the intensity of the response to Mamdani’s planned attendance. Petition organizers do not view the dispute as an ordinary disagreement over policy. They see it as a question of respect for the dead and for the relatives who continue to live with the consequences of September 11.

No Official Ban Has Been Announced

The most important distinction is between a public demand and an official decision.

Some headlines have stated that families want Mamdani “banned” from Ground Zero. That accurately describes the objective of the campaign, but it should not be interpreted as evidence that a ban has already been imposed.

At the time of publication:

• A petition is asking Mamdani not to attend.
• Some victims’ relatives and public officials support that request.
• Mamdani says he intends to attend.
• The 9/11 Memorial & Museum has not publicly announced his exclusion.

Unless the organizers change the ceremony’s arrangements, the dispute is likely to continue through the weeks leading up to September 11.

Conclusion

The petition against Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s participation in the 25th anniversary ceremony reflects a profound conflict over grief, political responsibility and the meaning of public remembrance.

The families supporting the campaign believe Ground Zero must remain free from politicians whose records they consider incompatible with the memory of the victims.

Mamdani maintains that he will attend precisely to honor those victims, together with the survivors and first responders.

For now, there is no official ban—only an increasingly public demand from members of the 9/11 community that the mayor voluntarily stay away.