Families of 9/11 Victims Petition Against Mayor’s Attendance

By the Editorial Team · Tuesday, July 28, 2026

Families of 9/11 victims have collected nearly 17,000 signatures on a petition asking Mayor Mamdani not to attend the 25th anniversary memorial due to concerns over his past statements and associations. Despite the backlash, Mamdani plans to participate, highlighting deep divisions over how the city should honor the attacks and who should represent the community.

Families of victims of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks have gathered nearly 17,000 signatures on a petition urging Mayor Mamdani to refrain from attending the upcoming 25th anniversary commemoration events. The petition, which was initiated last week by Giovanni Galante—who lost his wife, Grace Catherine Galante, in the attacks on the World Trade Center—expresses concerns about the mayor’s past statements and associations.

Galante and other petitioners have highlighted Mamdani’s alleged reluctance to condemn the phrase “globalize the intifada,” as well as his ties to certain individuals, including his chief counsel Ramzi Kassem, who previously represented Ahmed al-Darbi, a detainee linked to al-Qaeda. The petition’s language emphasizes that the anniversary should honor shared American values, respect for the victims, and a clear rejection of the ideologies that fueled the attacks.

In response to the petition and growing public scrutiny, Mamdani reaffirmed his intention to participate in the memorial events scheduled for this year. “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 said on Monday. He described the anniversary as a solemn occasion that affects not only residents of the city but all Americans.

Supporters of the petition include first responder John Feal, who was hospitalized for 11 weeks following the attacks. Feal emphasized the importance of allowing families to grieve without distress on such a significant day. “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, adding that community sentiment is critical during the commemoration.

The petition, which has drawn signatures from first responders and victims’ relatives alike, reflects broader unease stemming from perceived antagonism in Mamdani’s public positions toward the 9/11 community. One signatory, identified as Debra, urged the mayor to “stay home” and requested that his wife do the same, stating that such an action “would be a service to this city.”

As the 25th anniversary approaches, the debate over the mayor’s participation underscores ongoing tensions about how the legacy of 9/11 should be commemorated and who is deemed appropriate to represent the city during such solemn occasions.

This article was reported by synthesizing coverage from multiple independent news outlets to present a balanced, unbiased account. Read about our editorial standards. Spotted an error? Let us know.