Families of 9/11 victims in the US urge Mayor Mamdani not to attend ceremony
In New York, US, families of victims of the September 11 attacks submitted a petition with more than 100,000 signatures to City Hall. They demand that Mayor Zohran Mamdani not attend the upcoming ceremony marking the 25th anniversary of the tragedy at the World Trade Center site. The Jerusalem Post reports. After submitting the petition, relatives of those killed held a press conference on the steps of City Hall.
Petition by families of those killed
The petition was launched on the Change.org platform on July 9 by Giovanni Galante, the widower of Grace Galante, who was killed in the attacks. He said he is concerned by the mayor's public positions, rhetoric, and ties. Galante said the families want to spend the anniversary in prayer and honoring the memory of those killed, without turning the event into a “circus.”
Monica Iken, whose husband Michael was killed in the towers, said that a person whose presence the families do not want at the memorial museum should respect their wishes. Sherry Sparacio, whose husband Tom was killed in the South Tower, stressed that the petition, she said, is not related to Mamdani's religion or background, but concerns his current policies.
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Position of the mayor and City Council members
City Council members Joann Ariola and Vickie Paladino joined the families' appearance. Ariola said that, in her view, the mayor does not care about the memory of the September 11 victims because he surrounds himself with people who allegedly believe that the US “deserved” the attack. Paladino said she demands that Mamdani not appear at the memorial site.
Earlier, Mamdani confirmed in a comment to ABC News that he intends to attend the commemorative events on Friday, as he did last year. He said that this week he wants to focus attention on the families of those killed, the work of emergency responders, and New York residents who helped other city residents after the terrorist attack.
