Petition from 9/11 families asks NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani not to attend remembrance ceremony
A battle is brewing between Muslim New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani and the families of those killed during the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks ahead of a memorial service to commemorate the
25th anniversary.
A group that includes relatives of people killed in the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks is urging organizers of this year’s 25th anniversary commemoration at Ground Zero to keep Mamdani away from the ceremony.
The effort began with an online petition organized by Giovanni Galante, whose wife, Grace Catherine Galante, was killed at the World Trade Center.
She was 29 and worked on the 105th floor of the North Tower.
Galante and other supporters argue that Mamdani’s attendance would be inappropriate because of positions he has taken and left-wing socialist political figures with whom he has associated.
“We felt that having Mamdani there would show a disrespect to our family members because of the people he supports,” Galante told CBS News New York.
The petition describes concerns about Mamdani’s “public positions, associations, and responses to rhetoric” that its organizers view as hostile or inconsistent with the values represented by the annual commemoration.
The campaign has grown substantially since it was first reported in July. CBS News reported more than 23,000 total signatures by Aug. 18, while the New York Post reported Sept. 5 that the petition had surpassed 98,000 signatures.
The number of signers who are actually relatives of 9/11 victims has been disputed, however, and CBS corrected an earlier report that had inaccurately suggested thousands of victims’ family members had signed.
Galante initially estimated that hundreds of victims’ relatives had joined the effort, but organizers have not produced a verified accounting showing how many petition signatures belong to members of 9/11 families.
Some relatives have nevertheless publicly identified themselves as supporters.
Monica Iken Murphy, whose husband Michael was killed while working on the 84th floor of the South Tower, told CBS she believed the anniversary should remain focused on those who were directly affected by the attacks.
Other prominent members of the 9/11 community have taken a more measured position.
Dennis McKeon, who leads a Staten Island organization for 9/11 survivors, said he respected the families’ right to object to Mamdani’s attendance but noted that previous mayors and governors had faced criticism from 9/11 families without being excluded from the ceremony.
Mamdani has made clear that he intends to attend.
“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,” Mamdani told CBS News New York.
He said his attendance would reaffirm the city’s commitment to “never forget” the attacks and their lasting impact.
The National September 11 Memorial & Museum, which organizes the annual Ground Zero ceremony, has also resisted attempts to turn attendance by public officials into a partisan issue.
The organization said elected officials from across the political spectrum have traditionally been permitted to attend the ceremony as witnesses but do not give speeches and are placed in a designated area.
“We have intentionally worked to keep the commemoration free of politics,” the organization told CBS.
The anniversary ceremony itself is centered on victims and their families rather than elected officials.
On Sept. 11, relatives will gather on the Memorial plaza to read aloud the names of the 2,983 people killed in the 2001 terrorist attacks and the 1993 World Trade Center bombing.
Seven moments of silence are planned, marking the attacks and collapses of the Twin Towers, the attack on the Pentagon, the crash of Flight 93 and, for the first time as part of the expanded commemoration, those who later died from illnesses and injuries connected to 9/11.
The ceremony begins at 8:30 a.m., with the first moment of silence at 8:46 a.m., the time American Airlines Flight 11 struck the North Tower. Access to the Memorial plaza will initially be reserved for victims’ family members.
Mamdani has taken additional steps in the days leading up to the anniversary to emphasize his administration’s recognition of the attacks.
On Sept. 4, he signed an executive order formally designating Sept. 11 as a citywide Day of Remembrance and Service.
The order directs the city to honor victims, first responders, survivors and people who later died from illnesses connected to their exposure at Ground Zero.
💥 PRESS DEBUT DISASTER!
Katie Zacharia’s Awkward First White House Press Briefing Draws National Attention
Katie Zacharia’s first appearance behind the White House podium quickly became a major talking point after several uncomfortable moments overshadowed her debut as President Donald Trump’s new press secretary.
The October 13 briefing lasted approximately 14 minutes, with Zacharia answering questions from only three news outlets before ending the session. Her short appearance immediately attracted widespread media attention.
Zacharia had recently been selected to replace former press secretary Karoline Leavitt, stepping into a highly visible role responsible for communicating the administration’s positions to journalists and the American public.
From the opening minutes, observers noticed her reliance on prepared notes. She delivered a lengthy account of Trump’s accomplishments, frequently looking down at the script instead of maintaining eye contact with reporters.
Her delivery also attracted criticism, with commentators describing her voice as hesitant and her presentation as unusually stiff. Others questioned whether the administration had given its newest spokesperson enough preparation time.
Much of the briefing focused on praising Trump’s economic agenda, energy policies, rally attendance, and political achievements. The extended list of talking points left relatively little time for substantive exchanges with journalists.
One particularly awkward moment occurred when Zacharia discussed the challenge of balancing her demanding position with family life. She explained that spending evenings away from her four children was unacceptable to her.
She then accidentally referred to her husband as “my president” before immediately correcting herself with “my husband.” Recognizing the slip, she added a brief joke, creating the briefing’s most widely discussed moment.
The verbal mix-up spread rapidly through news coverage and social media, becoming a defining image of her first appearance. Critics treated it as evidence of nervousness, while others viewed it as an ordinary human mistake.
Her response to a question about U.S. intelligence sharing with Ukraine also drew attention. When asked whether Washington had stopped sharing intelligence with Kyiv, Zacharia replied that she would have to get back to the reporter.
The exchange was brief, but it highlighted the difficulty of responding to sensitive foreign policy questions without immediately having the necessary information. Reporters continued seeking answers as the briefing moved forward.
Another significant announcement concerned Kimberly Guilfoyle, the U.S. ambassador to Greece. Zacharia told reporters that the administration had asked Guilfoyle to resign, unexpectedly introducing a personnel development into the short briefing.
The announcement generated additional headlines and demonstrated that, despite the awkward delivery, Zacharia’s first appearance included consequential political news. Her handling of the announcement, however, also attracted scrutiny from commentators.
Questions about her readiness soon emerged among political observers and some administration allies. The Wall Street Journal described the debut as rocky, reporting that her nervous presentation prompted questions about the decision to put her before cameras so quickly.
The brief question-and-answer session was another unusual feature. After taking questions from Breitbart News, Fox News, and the Daily Mail, Zacharia announced that reporters could ask Trump questions directly as he prepared to leave.
Her decision to end the briefing after such limited questioning became another focus of criticism. Regular White House briefings often involve extended exchanges, making the short session particularly noticeable to journalists and political commentators.
Despite the criticism, Trump publicly defended his new press secretary. Asked about her performance, the president said he thought she had done very well, offering a clear show of support following the difficult debut.
The White House also presented the briefing positively, describing Zacharia’s performance as commanding. That assessment contrasted with critical media coverage, illustrating how differently supporters and detractors interpreted the same appearance.
Zacharia’s debut has therefore become an early test of her ability to manage a demanding communications role. Future briefings will offer a clearer indication of whether she can develop greater confidence and handle sustained questioning.
For now, the accidental “my president” remark remains the most memorable moment from her first appearance. Whether the incident becomes a brief viral embarrassment or a lasting political talking point will depend on what follows.
