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Mayor Mamdani Says He'll Attend 9/11 Ceremony
Mamdani will attend the 9/11 memorial despite a petition with nearly 100,000 signatures and criticism over his legal appointee, officials said.
On Friday, New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani will attend the annual 9/11 remembrance ceremony at Ground Zero despite mounting criticism from some victims' families and prominent Republicans urging him to stay away.
A petition signed by nearly 100,000 people urges Mamdani to skip the event, citing his appointment of Ramzi Kassem as chief legal counsel due to Kassem's past defense of a convicted al Qaeda member.
Former Mayor Rudy Giuliani and former New York Gov. George Pataki have publicly pressured Mamdani to avoid the memorial, while security preparations for Friday's ceremony began this week with checkpoints installed at the World Trade Center.
Mamdani insists his presence is an essential mayoral duty, telling reporters he intends to focus on "the families whose loved ones were stolen from them 25 years ago in the horrific act of terror of September 11th."
Not all relatives oppose the mayor's attendance, as September 11th Families for Peaceful Tomorrows has defended his participation, arguing the solemn anniversary should not become a venue for political fighting.