Online Petition Demanding Mamdani’s Removal From 9/11 Memorial Tops 100,000 Signatures

Topline

A petition calling for New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani to be excluded from this week’s 9/11 remembrance ceremony has surpassed 100,000 signatures, following similar pressure from prominent Republican figures including former Mayor Rudy Giuliani and former Governor George Pataki.

Key Facts

The Change.org petition, started by family members of 9/11 victims, had reached 100,711 verified signatures as of Tuesday morning, according to the platform.

The petitioners expressed concern over Mamdani’s “potential inclusion in the 25th-year commemorative events,” citing his “public positions, associations, and responses to rhetoric” they view as hostile to their values.

The document outlines eight specific grievances, including allegations that Mamdani supports or associates with individuals who are “dismissive of American institutions or insufficiently critical of extremist ideologies.”

One key complaint focuses on Mamdani’s appointment of Ramzi Kassem as chief counsel, noting Kassem’s prior representation of Ahmed al-Darbi, who was charged in connection with the 2002 suicide bombing of a French oil tanker.

What Has Giuliani Said About Mamdani’s Attendance?

In a Sunday interview with Newsmax, Giuliani—who was mayor during the attacks—made a series of unfounded claims about Muslims in America and Mamdani’s loyalties. He stated that Mamdani’s presence “offends” him given his close ties to 9/11 families, then baselessly accused Muslims of seeking to “take us over” and claimed without evidence that Mamdani was a “clear supporter” of that agenda. Giuliani also falsely suggested Mamdani was concealing his allegiances, unlike the 9/11 attackers. Mamdani is New York City’s first Muslim mayor.

Tangent

Last week, former Republican Governor George Pataki told City & State that Mamdani should not attend the ceremony. Pataki argued that anyone who fails to “intentionally distance themselves from Hasan Piker”—a left-wing Twitch streamer who made controversial remarks suggesting America deserved the 9/11 attacks—should be excluded. Mamdani previously disavowed Piker’s comments during his mayoral campaign, calling them “objectionable and reprehensible.” Pataki also criticized Mamdani for refusing to reject the “globalize the intifada” slogan, which he said calls for violence against Jewish people worldwide, and urged Mamdani to voluntarily skip the event unless he renounces those views.

What Has Mamdani Said About Attending The Ceremony?

On Monday, while attending the West Indian Day Parade, Mamdani declined to address Giuliani’s remarks but confirmed he would attend the Ground Zero remembrance. “I want this week to be a focus on the families whose loved ones were stolen from them 25 years ago in the horrific act of terror of September 11th, and on the first responders who gave everything,” he told reporters. He added that he would be at the Memorial on Friday to honor “that incredible courage.”

Who Are The Prominent Figures Attending The Ceremony?

All four living former presidents—Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, Barack Obama, and Joe Biden—will attend, alongside Mamdani. The Trump administration will be represented by Vice President JD Vance, while President Trump will attend a separate ceremony at the Pentagon, which was also struck on 9/11, and deliver a speech there. Trump’s absence from Ground Zero reportedly follows organizers’ decision to bar politicians from speaking at the venue.

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