Calls to bar New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani from the 25th-anniversary 9/11 ceremony are intensifying after he handed a symbolic pen to his chief counsel Ramzi Kassem, a lawyer who previously represented an al Qaeda terrorist, prompting outrage from victims’ families and critics across the country.
Mayor Mamdani is under fire after a ceremonial gesture at a recent executive order signing turned into a lightning rod for anger and suspicion among those still grieving America’s worst terror attack. After signing two executive orders related to the September 11 attacks, Mamdani handed a symbolic pen to NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch and asked her to pass it to his chief counsel, Ramzi Kassem. Kassem, in addition to drafting the orders, is known for his past legal defense of Ahmed al-Darbi, a former Guantánamo Bay detainee who pleaded guilty to war-crimes charges linked to al Qaeda plots, including the 2002 bombing of a French oil tanker off Yemen’s coast.
The move was met with immediate and fierce backlash from 9/11 families and a wide swath of New Yorkers. A petition, organized by Giovanni Galante, who lost his wife Grace in the attacks, has gathered more than 43,000 signatures, with thousands coming from relatives of the victims. Galante and other organizers argue that Mamdani’s public record and his association with figures accused of minimizing or defending terrorism make him an “unwelcome guest” at what should be a sacred and nonpolitical ceremony at Ground Zero. “This day is sacred to us. It is not political, and it is not a platform for those connected to such views. His presence would be deeply hurtful and inappropriate, like an unwelcome guest at a deeply personal ceremony,” Galante said, as reported by the New York Post.
Social media lit up with condemnation. Podcaster Benny Johnson called the pen handoff “a slap in the face to victims ahead of the 25th anniversary of 9/11.” On X, former state Senate candidate Maria Danzilo voiced the exhaustion of New Yorkers: “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.” Another user described Mamdani’s gesture as one that “undermines 9/11 yet again with impunity.”
Adding to the pressure, prominent figures have joined family members in calling for Mamdani’s exclusion from the anniversary ceremony. Actress Patricia Heaton and actor James Woods both endorsed the petition, with Heaton urging New Yorkers to “keep it going” and the petition itself emphasizing that the commemoration “should remain centered on remembrance, unity, and an unambiguous rejection of the violence and extremism that defined that day.” The Breitbart report noted the petition’s rapid growth and the broad support behind it.
Organizers of the petition have cited a pattern they say is troubling: Mamdani’s ties to controversial figures such as Imam Siraj Wahhaj, his refusal to disavow the slogan “globalize the intifada,” and his appointment of Kassem as chief counsel despite Kassem’s defense of high-profile terror defendants. Newsmax reported that these associations, along with Mamdani’s appearances at events with figures accused of minimizing or excusing terrorism, have alienated many 9/11 families. Cheri Sparacio, whose husband was killed at the World Trade Center, called Mamdani “an unwelcome guest” at the ceremony. The petition’s organizers estimate that between 3,000 and 7,500 signers are themselves relatives of 9/11 victims. The Newsmax report also noted that the 9/11 Memorial & Museum traditionally allows every sitting mayor to attend, but officials have faced mounting calls for a policy change in response to the uproar.
City Hall defended Kassem’s presence at the executive order signing, telling the New York Post that “he and his team drafted both executive orders as part of his duties as chief counsel.” The orders, signed “Friday” according to reports, designated September 11 as a citywide day of remembrance and service, and pledged to strengthen efforts to prevent future terrorist threats. However, critics say the symbolism of the pen handoff cannot be separated from Kassem’s history, which includes founding a legal clinic to represent Muslims and defending Mahmoud Khalil, a pro-Palestinian activist detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Mamdani’s office did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment about the backlash. The 9/11 Memorial & Museum, for its part, stated that the annual ceremony is intended to remain nonpolitical, with government officials traditionally attending only as witnesses and not as speakers. Despite the outcry, Mamdani’s spokesperson has said he still intends to attend the anniversary commemoration.
This episode is not the first time Mamdani’s leadership has drawn sharp criticism. His city-run grocery initiative, for example, has faced warnings from business owners that it would “crush local businesses they claim to help”, a pattern of policies and gestures that many say show disregard for ordinary New Yorkers and those who suffer the consequences of elite decisions. Local business leaders have echoed the sense that the mayor is out of touch with the city’s real needs.
For families of the 2,977 killed on September 11, and the 184 who died at the Pentagon, this year’s anniversary carries special weight. The symbolism of who is honored, who is included, and who is entrusted with the city’s memory matters deeply. As the debate continues, many are left asking whether the city’s leadership truly understands or respects the pain still felt by so many.
Respecting the gravity of 9/11’s legacy should never be up for negotiation, or handed off as a political token.
