Politics
Retired Port Authority officers ask Hochul and Mamdani to skip 25th 9/11 anniversary ceremony
An association representing former officers cited political controversies surrounding the New York governor and New York City mayor.
The short version
- The Port Authority Retired Police Association sent letters urging New York Gov. Kathy Hochul and NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani not to attend the 25th anniversary 9/11 commemoration at Ground Zero.
- The group criticized Mamdani's political stances and Hochul's past choice to illuminate One World Trade Center for Muslim American Heritage Month.
- Hochul's office affirmed that she will attend alongside victims' families, while Mamdani has previously stated plans to participate despite public pushback.
Key facts
- Port Authority Retired Police Association President John McDevitt sent letters dated Aug. 14 requesting that Gov. Kathy Hochul and Mayor Zohran Mamdani stay away from the Sept. 11 anniversary ceremony.[Fox News]
- The retired officers argued that Mamdani's political positions and past statements are inconsistent with the sacrifices of 9/11 victims and first responders.[Fox News]
- The group objected to Hochul's past decision to light One World Trade Center for Muslim American Heritage Month, alleging it demonstrated disregard for the site's significance.[Fox News]
- A representative for Hochul stated the governor respects the families and will attend the ceremony, noting that Muslim New Yorkers also served as first responders.[Fox News]
- An online petition organized by a victim's spouse seeking to bar Mamdani from the Ground Zero ceremony has gathered over 95,000 signatures.[Fox News]
- The National September 11 Memorial & Museum maintains rules barring attending officials from delivering speeches and requiring them to stay in a designated area to avoid politicizing the event.[Fox News]
What remains uncertain
- It remains unconfirmed whether event organizers will take any action regarding the petition to exclude Mayor Mamdani from the ceremony.[Fox News]