A group of 9/11 victims' family members and supporters publicly called on New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani to stay away from the 25th anniversary memorial ceremony at Ground Zero, but a social media post about the protest has since raised a separate question about the media coverage of the event.
The families and supporters gathered outside New York City Hall on Tuesday, 8 September, days before the anniversary ceremony, to deliver a petition urging Mamdani not to attend. The petition had collected more than 100,000 signatures, according to reports at the time.
Mamdani nevertheless attended the Ground Zero ceremony on Friday, 11 September, where the names of the victims were read.
9/11 Families Asked Mamdani Not To Attend
The dispute centres on Mamdani's planned appearance at the annual Ground Zero commemoration marking the 11 September 2001 terrorist attacks, which killed 2,977 people.
On 8 September, relatives of victims, first responders and other supporters gathered outside City Hall to make their position known. Charles Wolf, whose wife was killed in the attacks, directly appealed to Mamdani not to attend.
'This mayor is not serving us,' Wolf said, according to reports from the event. He argued that the ceremony is a deeply personal occasion for families and urged the mayor to respect their wishes.
The objections to Mamdani's attendance also extend beyond the ceremony itself.
Critics have pointed to his appointment of Ramzi Kassem as chief counsel, citing Kassem's past legal representation of a man associated with al-Qaeda. Kassem's appointment has become one of the issues raised by opponents of Mamdani's planned appearance at the memorial.
The petition delivered at City Hall therefore became part of a wider political dispute over how the mayor should approach the anniversary.
The Claim About Reporters at the Event
A separate controversy emerged after social media personality Bo Loudon shared footage of the City Hall gathering.
Loudon claimed in a post accompanying the video that no reporter asked the 9/11 families why they wanted Mamdani to stay away from Ground Zero. The claim was subsequently echoed by other social media accounts.
However, the allegation should be treated as a claim rather than an independently established fact.
The available evidence does not establish that no reporter anywhere asked a family member about the issue before, during or after the event. Nor does it support the broader suggestion that the media completely ignored the families' objections.
🚨9/11 families just asked Zohran Mamdani to STAY AWAY from the Ground Zero ceremony - Over 100,000 people have signed the petition.
— Bo Loudon (@BoLoudon) September 8, 2026
"Stay put, stay in City Hall and promote your propaganda."
Why isn't the media covering this? pic.twitter.com/shGDhpoaGX
Several news organisations did report on the protest and the reasons cited by those opposing Mamdani's attendance. Coverage included comments from family members and supporters, as well as discussion of the petition and the controversy surrounding the mayor's planned appearance.
The more limited question raised by Loudon's post is whether reporters at the particular event shown in the footage asked follow-up questions about why the families wanted Mamdani excluded from the ceremony.
Using their dead relatives as props for their bigotry. These people should be ashamed of themselves. https://t.co/GxF4SCwsNx
— B L A K E L E Y™℠©® LLC (@_iamblakeley) September 8, 2026
Mamdani Attended the Ground Zero Ceremony
Despite the petition and public criticism, Mamdani attended Friday's 25th anniversary commemoration at Ground Zero.
The mayor had repeatedly said that his intention was to honour those who lost their lives, as well as survivors and first responders. His administration has also taken steps to formally recognise the anniversary, including establishing 11 September as a citywide Day of Remembrance and Service.
Mamdani's decision to attend has nevertheless attracted criticism from several prominent figures. Former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani urged him to stay away, while former Governor George Pataki also criticised his plan at the ceremony.
For the families who signed and supported the petition, the issue is deeply personal. They have argued that the Ground Zero commemoration should be centred on the victims and their relatives rather than becoming another stage for political conflict.
Thank you 🙏 @spencerpratt https://t.co/kuvXzQlRar
— Rudy W. Giuliani (@RudyGiuliani) September 8, 2026
The Debate Over Mamdani's Attendance
The controversy also comes against the backdrop of wider political arguments surrounding Mamdani and his administration.
While critics have focused on his policies, appointments and past political positions, supporters have argued that some criticism directed at the mayor has also centred on his Muslim identity. That has added another layer to a dispute already involving a highly sensitive anniversary and a deeply divided political environment.
Mamdani, for his part, has maintained that attending the ceremony is appropriate as the city's mayor.
A Memorial Caught in a Political Dispute
The 25th anniversary gives this year's commemoration particular significance. As families gather at Ground Zero to remember those killed on 11 September 2001, the traditional ceremony once again centres on the reading of the victims' names and personal remembrance.
For the relatives protesting Mamdani's attendance, his presence is unwanted. For Mamdani, attending represents his responsibility as New York City's mayor and an opportunity to honour those who died and the first responders who responded to the attacks.
As of press time, Mamdani has attended the 25th anniversary 9/11 remembrance ceremony at Ground Zero despite calls from some victims' relatives and other critics for him to stay away. The dispute over his attendance may continue beyond the anniversary, while the separate question surrounding the media's coverage of the families' protest remains a matter of interpretation unless further evidence is established.
