Retired officers of the Port Authority Police Association sent letters on Aug. 14 to New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani and Governor Kathy Hochul, requesting that the two Democratic officials refrain from attending the September 11, 2001, 25th‑anniversary ceremony at Ground Zero.
John McDevitt, president of the association, wrote that the day is “not a political occasion, a photo opportunity, or a platform for public officials.” He emphasized that the ceremony is a solemn remembrance for those who were murdered, the responders who risked their lives, the survivors, and the families who have carried the loss for a quarter‑century.
Veterans’ concerns
The retired officers highlighted that 37 Port Authority police officers and 47 other agency members died in the attacks, describing the World Trade Center as “our home.” They argued that the memorial should not become a stage for political controversy and warned that the officials’ attendance would “inflict deep pain” on many members of the 9/11 community.
McDevitt suggested that Mamdani could honor the anniversary with a written statement, a public message, or a separate event, allowing families to remember in peace.
Governor’s response
Governor Hochul’s office responded that she has “enormous respect for all the families who lost loved ones on 9/11” and will “proudly stand alongside them at this year’s commemoration.” The statement also noted that Muslim New Yorkers served as first responders and that “Islamophobia has no place in New York.”
The petition urging organizers to bar Mamdani from the ceremony has gathered more than 95,000 signatures since its launch in July by Giovanni Galante, whose wife was killed on 9/11. Former White House spokesman Michael LaRosa signed the petition, warning that Mamdani’s presence could become a “lightning rod” that diverts attention from victims and their families.
The National September 11 Memorial & Museum said the annual ceremony is kept free of politics; officials who attend do not deliver remarks and are asked to remain in a designated area.
Original reporting: Fox News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
