Opposition to Mamdani’s 9/11 remembrance was painful to witness
A petition against the mayor’s presence reeked of Islamophobia – and ran counter to the sense of togetherness that followed the attacks
TL;DR
- The author shares personal experiences of 9/11 and the city's response, including the toxic air quality.
- Criticism and a petition sought to prevent Mayor Zohran Mamdani, a Muslim, from attending the 9/11 commemoration.
- The opposition is characterized as Islamophobic, with Mamdani's Muslim faith being the underlying reason.
- Mamdani, despite being nine at the time of the attacks, attended the ceremony and showed grace, even shaking hands with a critic.
- A protest against Mamdani turned violent, but a majority of New Yorkers supported his presence at the memorial.