9/11 Families Revolt: Ban The Mayor- 25th Anniversary

More than 300 families who lost loved ones on September 11 are demanding that New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani stay away from the 25th anniversary ceremony at Ground Zero.

Story Snapshot

Families of 9/11 victims launched a petition to bar Mayor Zohran Mamdani from the 25th anniversary ceremony at Ground Zero.
Relatives, including Giovanni Galante and Dennis McGinley, say Mamdani’s presence would dishonor the nearly 3,000 people killed.
Critics point to Mamdani’s past comments and associations, including ties to commentator Hasan Piker, as reasons for their outrage.
Mamdani has attended prior 9/11 memorial events and defended himself against accusations of anti-American sympathies.

Families Say Mamdani’s Presence Would Disgrace The Dead

The petition drive started after families grew frustrated watching Mamdani rise in New York politics while, in their view, failing to fully condemn Islamic terrorism. Giovanni Galante, whose wife Grace Catherine Galante died in the attacks, told reporters the mayor’s history makes his attendance unacceptable at a ceremony meant to honor the dead, not score political points.

Dennis McGinley, whose brother Daniel Francis McGinley died on the 89th floor of the World Trade Center, put it bluntly. He told Mamdani not to bother showing up at all, arguing the mayor has no place at a memorial for victims of an ideology McGinley says Mamdani has failed to condemn clearly.

A Pattern Of Friction Between Mamdani And 9/11 Families

This is not the first clash. Last September, a 9/11 family publicly slammed Mamdani over his association with commentator Hasan Piker, who once said “America deserved” the attacks. The family asked how anyone seeking city leadership could stay close to someone who said that about the deadliest terror attack on American soil.

Mamdani has also faced scrutiny over a personal story he told about his aunt fearing to wear her hijab on the subway after 9/11. Reporters could not verify parts of the account, and Mamdani later clarified his remarks after the story drew pushback during his mayoral campaign. Republican Representative Randy Fine has gone further, telling Newsmax that Mamdani’s broader agenda threatens American security and the country’s relationship with Israel.

Mamdani’s Record At Prior Memorial Events

Mamdani has attended 9/11 commemorations before. Last September, he showed up at the lower Manhattan ceremony while running for mayor, reportedly avoiding contact with rival candidates and Trump administration officials present that day. He is also expected to appear at a wreath-laying event with King Charles III at the National September 11 Memorial & Museum.

Protesters have made their objections known outside past memorial events, too. A demonstration outside the 9/11 Memorial in October 2025 featured signs demanding Mamdani’s deportation and calling for a ban on Sharia law in America, showing how heated this dispute has already become well before the 25th anniversary.

Why This Fight Matters Beyond One Ceremony

Ground Zero ceremonies have always carried weight beyond a single day of mourning. They test how public officials handle sacred ground when politics and grief collide. Families guarding their loved ones’ memory deserve deference, and a mayor’s attendance at such a somber event should never feel like a political statement forced upon the bereaved.

The families pushing this petition are not fringe voices. They represent people who buried spouses, brothers, and parents nearly 25 years ago. Their objection is rooted in a simple demand: that the anniversary remain about honoring the dead, not providing a platform for a mayor whose past statements and associations they view as disqualifying for that solemn role.

Families of 9/11 victims are urging organizers to keep NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani away from the 25th anniversary ceremony at Ground Zero.https://t.co/xxLqiTlWzO pic.twitter.com/4S4OJ1M5Rv

— Jennifer Harashack (@OngLengImm) July 25, 2026

Mayor Mamdani has not announced whether he will heed the families’ request or attend as planned. With the 25th anniversary approaching, pressure on his office is likely to grow, especially as more relatives sign the petition and national commentators amplify the story ahead of September.