Family members who lost loved ones on 9/11 have started an online petition calling for New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani not to attend the 25th 9/11 remembrance ceremony.
Giovanni Galante, a 9/11 widower, started the petition with a woman who lost her husband on 9/11. Galante’s 29-year-old wife, Grace Catherine Galante, worked on the 105th floor of the north tower.
“We felt that having Mamdani there would show a disrespect to our family members because of the people he supports,” Galante said.
Editor’s note: An earlier version of this story incorrectly stated that thousands of 9/11 families had signed the petition. The petition was signed by thousands, including some 9/11 families. This story has also been updated to include more of Dennis McKeon’s interview.
Mamdani was 8 years old when the 9/11 attack happened. Those same families wouldn’t dream of banning Christians from an Oklahoma City Bombing remembrance ceremony because Timothy McVeigh and Terry Nichols were raised Christian.
It is unbelievably disrespectful for the 9/11 families to call for this and they should be completely ignored as is best with all hateful bigots. Losing family 25 years ago doesn’t give you license to be an asshole.
Racists should be shamed. Each person on this petition should be openly shamed.