Retired Port Authority police officers are calling on New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani and Governor Kathy Hochul to skip the upcoming 25th-anniversary commemoration of the 9/11 attacks at Ground Zero. They argue that their participation would bring “deep pain” to families of the victims, survivors, and first responders.
In letters dated August 14, John McDevitt, president of the Port Authority Retired Police Association, expressed the group’s sentiments, urging the two officials not to attend the September 11 ceremony, which marks the most devastating terror attack in U.S. history.
McDevitt stated in his letter to Mamdani, “For us, September 11 is not a political occasion, a photo opportunity, or a platform for public officials. It is a solemn day of remembrance for those who were murdered, those who responded, those who survived, and the families who have carried these losses for twenty-five years.”
The retired officers emphasized that the World Trade Center was “our home,” recounting that 37 Port Authority police officers and 47 others affiliated with the Port Authority lost their lives during the 2001 attacks. “Thirty-seven of our brothers and sisters made the ultimate sacrifice,” McDevitt noted, urging that the memorial should not be sullied by political controversy.
Concerns were also raised about Mamdani’s public statements and political connections, which, according to the retired officers, conflict with the sacrifices made by the victims and law enforcement. McDevitt remarked, “We believe your presence at Ground Zero on this 25th anniversary would cause deep pain to many members of the 9/11 community. It also risks shifting attention away from the people whose lives, courage, and sacrifice the ceremony exists to honor.” He suggested instead that Mamdani could acknowledge the anniversary through another means, perhaps a public statement.
Similarly, the retired officers expressed strong disapproval in their correspondence with Hochul, criticizing her decision to illuminate One World Trade Center for Muslim American Heritage Month. While they didn’t oppose the celebration itself, they were troubled by its connection to such a significant site. McDevitt described it as “insensitive, tone-deaf, and an affront” to the sacrifices made there.
He went on to say, “Because of that decision, we believe that you have forfeited your right to stand alongside us at Ground Zero on the 25th anniversary.” In response, Hochul’s office stated that the governor respects the families affected by 9/11 and intends to “proudly stand alongside them” at the commemoration. They emphasized the role of Muslim New Yorkers in uniting the city after the attacks, asserting that Islamophobia has no place in New York.
Mamdani has publicly affirmed his intention to attend the commemoration, aiming to honor the families, survivors, and first responders impacted by the events of that day.
This demand coincides with a petition that has garnered over 95,000 signatures from individuals seeking to prevent Mamdani from participating in the ceremony. The petition was initiated by Giovanni Galante, whose wife was among those killed on September 11. In the petition, Galante indicated that they aim to shield their loved ones from influences that oppose their values during this solemn occasion.
Former Jill Biden spokesman Michael LaRosa also voiced his concerns, sharing the belief that Mamdani’s presence would detract from the families and victims being honored at the ceremony. The National September 11 Memorial & Museum clarified that the annual commemoration is meant to remain politically neutral, with officials attending without making speeches or engaging beyond designated areas.
Fox News Digital has reached out to Mamdani’s office for further comments.
