On September 10, 2026, families of September 11 victims gathered for two downtown rallies in Manhattan to ask Mayor Zohran Mamdani not to attend the upcoming Ground Zero memorial service. The gatherings, held in separate locations, were organized by six survivor family members who also voiced criticism of policies associated with the mayor’s political party.
The protesters cited the mayor’s recent announcement of steps to honor the 9/11 attacks and to release related government records as a catalyst for their opposition. While the mayor’s plan includes new commemorative actions and increased transparency, the families said those measures do not address their concerns and that his presence at the memorial would be inappropriate.
During the rallies, the families reiterated their request that the mayor stay away from the ceremony and used the platform to highlight broader disagreements with his party’s agenda. They emphasized that their objection was rooted in both the symbolic nature of the memorial and the political context surrounding the mayor’s initiatives.
Mayor Mamdani has not publicly responded to the protests at the time of writing. The city’s official schedule lists the mayor among the invited participants for the September 11 remembrance event at Ground Zero, a tradition observed annually in Manhattan.
The two rallies attracted local media attention and underscored a continuing dialogue between city officials and families of the 2001 attacks. The families’ demand reflects a desire for the mayor to reconsider his role in the ceremony while they continue to monitor the implementation of the announced records release and commemorative plans.
The situation adds a layer of tension to the city’s preparations for the September 11 anniversary, as organizers balance official commemorations with the expressed wishes of those directly affected by the tragedy.