Over 100,000 Sign Petition Opposing Mayor Mamdani’s Attendance at 9/11 Memorial

More than 100,000 people have reportedly signed a petition urging New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani not to attend the upcoming 25th anniversary commemoration of the September 11 terrorist attacks.

The ceremony at the World Trade Center Memorial Plaza is intended primarily for the families of those killed on 9/11. During a Tuesday gathering outside City Hall, Councilwoman Vickie Paladino declared that Mamdani would not be welcomed by many grieving New Yorkers.

“I am not asking politely; I am demanding that he not show his face on that sacred ground,” Paladino said.

Much of the opposition centers on Ramzi Kassem, whom Mamdani appointed as the city’s chief legal counsel. Kassem previously represented a convicted al-Qaeda member whose brother-in-law participated in the 9/11 hijackings. Critics also objected after Mamdani appeared to direct that a ceremonial pen used to sign a 9/11-related executive order be given to Kassem.

Charles Wolf, whose wife died in the North Tower, accused Mamdani of seeking publicity rather than genuinely supporting victims’ families.

“We don’t want a mayor who only wants to be there for the publicity,” Wolf said. “This mayor is not serving us. He’s serving himself.”

Former Mayor Rudy Giuliani also opposed Mamdani’s planned appearance, telling Newsmax that his attendance was offensive to some who lost loved ones.

Robert Maginnis, a retired Army lieutenant colonel and Family Research Council senior fellow, urged the public not to let politics overshadow the commemoration’s solemn purpose.

“The memorial ceremony belongs first and foremost to the nearly 3,000 people who were murdered,” Maginnis said, adding that participants should approach the occasion with humility.

Maginnis also cautioned against assuming that Kassem shares the beliefs of a former client, noting that providing criminal defense does not necessarily indicate ideological agreement.

As controversy grows, one truth must remain central: September 11 is not a stage for political ambition. It is sacred ground for remembrance, mourning, courage, and a national promise never to forget.

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