More than 1,100 people, including at least 300 families of 9/11 victims, have signed a petition demanding that organizers keep New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani away from the 25th anniversary ceremony at Ground Zero.
Story Snapshot
- A Change.org petition from 9/11 family members calls Mamdani an “unwelcome guest” at the 2026 ceremony.
- Signers point to his alleged reluctance to condemn “globalize the intifada” and his ties to controversial figures.
- The petition also cites writings by Mamdani’s father and his past praise of a Brooklyn imam.
- No 9/11 Memorial official has confirmed whether Mamdani will be barred or allowed to attend.
A Petition Rooted in Grief and Suspicion
The petition asks organizers to weigh whether Mamdani’s presence fits the ceremony’s purpose. It gathered over 1,100 signatures in about a week, with at least 300 coming from relatives of people killed on September 11, 2001. Giovanni Galante, whose wife Grace Catherine Galante died that day, said his concern comes from Mamdani’s “inability to adequately recognize the tragedy” and his ties to people who downplayed the attacks.
The document itself lays out several specific worries. It points to a “perceived reluctance” by Mamdani to clearly condemn the phrase “globalize the intifada,” language many Jewish groups view as a call for violence. It also flags his association with people the petitioners say have been dismissive of American institutions or soft on extremist ideas.
What the Families Say Worries Them
The petition goes further, citing writings by Mamdani’s father, who reportedly wrote after 9/11 that suicide bombers should be seen as part of modern political violence rather than branded as barbaric. It also notes Mamdani’s past praise for Brooklyn Imam Siraj Wahhaj, who critics link to radical Islam and who once served as a character witness for the so-called “Blind Sheikh”.
Earlier controversies feed into this pattern. One 9/11 family member criticized Mamdani last year for his association with streamer Hasan Piker, who said “America deserved” the attacks. Protesters have also gathered near the 9/11 Memorial demanding action against Mamdani, and a victim’s brother publicly told him to stay away from Ground Zero.
The Gaps in the Evidence
Much of the case against Mamdani rests on association rather than his own words. The available record does not include a direct quote from Mamdani endorsing terrorism or disrespecting 9/11 victims. The claim about “globalize the intifada” lacks a full transcript, and the father’s writings, while cited, do not show Mamdani himself adopting that view on the record.
The Wahhaj claim faces a similar problem. No available source shows the original quote or full context of Mamdani’s praise, making it hard to judge whether critics are reading too much into it. And no 9/11 Memorial official has confirmed a formal decision to exclude Mamdani, meaning the petition’s goal remains unmet for now.
Mamdani’s Record and Response
Separate reporting complicates the picture further. Mamdani has posted nearly identical tribute messages honoring the victims for several years running, which critics call formulaic but which still count as public remembrance rather than avoidance. After backlash over a story about a relative’s fear of wearing a hijab after 9/11, Mamdani clarified he meant his father’s cousin, not the broader claim critics assumed.
This dispute also sits inside a wider pattern. Muslim public officials tied to Ground Zero commemorations often face scrutiny that blends real security concerns with questions about religious identity. Supporters of Mamdani argue the backlash reflects that pattern, while petition signers insist their objection is about specific statements and associations, not his faith.
𝟗/𝟏𝟏 𝐕𝐈𝐂𝐓𝐈𝐌'𝐒 𝐁𝐑𝐎𝐓𝐇𝐄𝐑 𝐓𝐎 𝐌𝐀𝐘𝐎𝐑 𝐌𝐀𝐌𝐃𝐀𝐍𝐈: 𝐃𝐎𝐍'𝐓 𝐁𝐎𝐓𝐇𝐄𝐑 𝐒𝐇𝐎𝐖𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐔𝐏 𝐀𝐓 𝐆𝐑𝐎𝐔𝐍𝐃 𝐙𝐄𝐑𝐎
Dennis McGinley's brother, Daniel Francis McGinley, d∗ed on the 89th floor of the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001. As the 25th… pic.twitter.com/F09YUv2Chv
— M.A. Rothman (@MichaelARothman) July 26, 2026
A Decision Still Pending
The 25th anniversary falls at a moment when trust in institutions, from City Hall to federal agencies, is already thin for Americans across the political spectrum. Whether organizers explain their decision publicly or stay silent will shape how this dispute is remembered, either as a resolved question of fact or another unanswered grievance feeding public distrust.
Sources:
redstate.com, nydailynews.com, nypost.com, cnn.com, youtube.com, dailywire.com
