Add The New York Post on Google Families of 9/11 victims have amassed nearly 17,000 signatures on a petition calling for Mayor Zohran Mamdani to stay away from 25th anniversary ceremonies commemorating the devastating tragedy — but Hizzoner casually brushed off their grievances Monday.
Mamdani was questioned about whether he would attend the events honoring the 2,977 innocents murdered in the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks – following mounting pressure from the Change.org petition.
“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 — reaffirming that we will never forget the solemn day felt by all of us who call this city home, and frankly, by all of us who call this country home,” Mamdani said.
The petition was spearheaded by Giovianni Galante, who lost his wife, Grace Catherine Galante, 29, to the al-Qaeda attacks on the World Trade Center, The Post reported on Saturday. The online plea, created last week, has racked up at least 16,889 signatures since.
Galante cited several reasons for his concern – including Mamdani’s reluctance to condemn the phrase “globalize the intifada” and his associations with individuals like his chief counsel, Ramzi Kassem, who previously represented an al-Qaeda tanker bombing pilot by the name of Ahmed al-Darbi.
“This anniversary is one of remembrance grounded in shared American values: respect for the victims, recognition of the gravity of the attacks, and a clear rejection of the ideologies that contributed to such violence,” the petition reads.
First responder John Feal, who spent 11 weeks in the hospital as a result of the attacks, told The Post it was important that the families could peacefully grieve on the solemn 25th anniversary of losing their loved ones.
“If they’re gonna be upset by his presence, and that they’re not gonna get that day or a few hours to heal and to hear the loved one’s name without seeing his face, then I support that 100 %,” he said. “When you piss off and upset the 9/11 community, it’s a problem.”
Petitioners cited that many people feel Mamdani’s public positions and associations were “hostile” to their cause.
“Stay home, please. And ensure your wife does the same. That in itself would be a service to this city,” wrote one first responder by the name Debra with her sign-on to the appeal.
Another signee named Mark claimed he lost twelve friends in the attacks.
“The current NYC mayor has not earned the privilege of being in the company of such magnificent Americans. Stay away, Mamdani,” he wrote.
