Commemoration of September 11th at University of Iowa Disrupted
The University of Iowa’s Young Americans for Freedom (YAF) chapter held its annual “Never Forget” event on September 11th, where some students disrupted the commemoration by throwing paper planes at the display. One plane fell short, while another hit the monument, though no damage occurred. This took place on the 24th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks that claimed 2,977 lives at the World Trade Center, the Pentagon, and aboard United Flight 93.
Eager to honor the memory of those lost, YAF members began placing 2,977 flags at Hubbard Park around 6 a.m. Despite their efforts, one of the students tried throwing a paper plane at the display, but it fell short. The group then approached the monument again before leaving the area.
The YAF Executive Committee issued a response, emphasizing the importance of recognizing human life, stating, “Ignoring human life and insensitivity to fear has led to innocent bloodshed since yesterday, and has lost the life I remember today.”
Reflecting on the significance of the day, an individual named Kirk noted that while the attacks briefly united the nation, much of that unity has since diminished. He stated, “we will never forget the lost life, the courage of our first responders of the day, or America where we work to recover every day.”
Benjamin Peeper, a YAF member, recorded the incident and expressed his disappointment, saying, “It’s sad to see people like this mocking such monuments, especially on 9/11. I pray for them.”
This isn’t the first dispute involving the same student and the YAF chapter. In October 2023, chapter members accused individuals of erasing chalk promotions for upcoming lectures, highlighting a broader ongoing conflict regarding free expression on campus.
For over two decades, the “9/11: Never Forget” project has spread awareness, with the Young America’s Foundation reporting over 14 million flags have been planted nationwide. The anniversary was also marked by President Trump at a ceremony at the Pentagon, where he reaffirmed the commitment to “never forget September 11th, 2001.”
On social media, the University of Iowa YAF shared a montage of the memorials, prompting mixed reactions, including a comment that featured two plane emojis from a local community member.
YAF has previously experienced hostility toward their events at the University of Iowa. For instance, a pro-Israel banner was destroyed just hours after it was placed on campus in October 2024, and the group claimed that their chalk messages and posters are often erased, as well as being targeted with threats on social media.
Similar incidents of conflict around the commemoration of 9/11 have been noted at other universities. For example, at Washington University in St. Louis, student government officials removed 2,977 American flags from a YAF memorial, an action that the university later condemned. Many in the YAF believe that students born after 9/11 are often not adequately taught about the significance of the attacks.
