New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani faces growing criticism after a decision he made during the 25th anniversary of the September 11 attacks has been accused by many as an intentional insult to victims.
The mayor signed a 9/11 remembrance declaration on Friday, just ahead of the anniversary that claimed 2,977 American lives. In the statement, Mamdani said: “The families who lost loved ones on 9/11 have every right to be outraged. On the 25th anniversary, City Hall should be honoring their sacrifice with dignity, not forcing those families to endure yet another insult.”
While no one took issue with the declaration, many were offended when he handed a ceremonial pen to NYPD Commissioner Ramzi Kassem, who was to give it to the chief counsel for the ceremony. Kassem had previously served as legal counsel for Ahmed al-Darbi, a convicted al-Qaeda terrorist whose brother-in-law hijacked a plane that crashed into the Pentagon on 9/11. Al-Darbi was sent to Guantanamo Bay on terror charges, convicted in 2017, and later transferred to Saudi Arabia.
City officials explained that Kassem attended the ceremony because his team drafted the declaration for the mayor.
The backlash has been swift online. One critic stated: “Mamdani handed that guy that pen very fkin intentionally. It wasn’t an oversight or a gaffe, it was a totally intentional signal to the whole city that the worst event in its history doesn’t matter to him.”
Former state Senate candidate Maria Danzilo wrote: “I sincerely hope the rest of the country understands just how hard it is to be in New York City with this mayor, and especially as we’re approaching this most serious and solemn day for NYC: 9/11.”
Republican Council Member Joann Ariola condemned the move as “breathtakingly tone-deaf and disrespectful,” adding: “The families who lost loved ones on 9/11 have every right to be outraged. On the 25th anniversary, City Hall should be honoring their sacrifice with dignity, not forcing those families to endure yet another insult.”
Another social media user stated: “He’s laughing at every American patriot who lost someone that day. He’s pissing on everyone who went in to try to save people in the towers. He hates you all.”
