Retired Port Authority officers urge leaders to skip 9/11 anniversary ceremony at Ground Zero
Retired Port Authority police officers are urging New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani and Gov. Kathy Hochul to skip the Sept. 11 commemoration at Ground Zero, citing the potential to cause pain to victims’ families, survivors, and first responders. In letters dated Aug. 14, John McDevitt, president of the Port Authority Retired Police Association, emphasized that the anniversary is a solemn day of remembrance, not a political event or photo opportunity.
McDevitt noted that 37 Port Authority police officers and 47 other members of the Port Authority family died in the 2001 attacks. The group expressed concern that Mamdani’s attendance, due to his public statements and political associations, would be disrespectful and could shift focus away from those being honored. The association also suggested Mamdani could participate through a written statement or separate event instead.
The retired officers also criticized Hochul’s decision to illuminate One World Trade Center for Muslim American Heritage Month, calling it an insensitivity to the site’s significance. They argued that the decision showed disregard for those who served and those affected by the attacks. McDevitt wrote that Hochul’s actions have led the association to believe she has forfeited the right to stand at Ground Zero during the anniversary.
Hochul’s office responded, stating that she respects the families who lost loved ones and plans to attend the commemoration. The spokesperson also highlighted the role of Muslim New Yorkers as first responders and their contribution to the city’s recovery after 9/11. Mamdani, who has said he intends to attend, received a petition with more than 95,000 signatures urging organizers to bar him from the event. The petition was launched in July by Giovanni Galante, whose wife was killed during the attacks.
The National September 11 Memorial & Museum has previously stated that the ceremony remains free of politics and that officials attending do not deliver remarks, remaining in designated areas. Fox News Digital reached out to Mamdani’s office for comment, and the story includes contributions from Charles Creitz.
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