The Dispute Index

Cheri Sparacio

Cheri Sparacio is a September 11 victim's family member who has participated publicly in debates about commemoration of the attacks. Her husband, Tom Sparacio, worked for Euro Brokers in the World Trade Center's south tower and was killed on September 11, 2001.

What DI has documented

DI has documented statements by Cheri Sparacio on Islamophobia and September 11 Attacks. Read the quotations, original sources and related cases below.

Topics in this coverage

Statements by Cheri Sparacio

Cheri Sparacio

Role at the time: September 11 victim's widow speaking personally

Condemned

Statement summary

Sparacio opposed Mamdani's attendance on the basis of his policies and associations, including his relationship with Hasan Piker, while saying her objection was not to his religion or background.

“It is strictly about the policies that he has today”
Open the original interview (opens in a new tab)CNN interviews Shahana Hanif and Cheri Sparacio about Mamdani's memorial attendanceHanif and Sparacio quotations in Partisan rancor threatens solemn unity of 9/11 ceremony
Why we used this label

The article identifies her participation in the campaign against attendance and records her stated reasons for that opposition.

Read statementShould Zohran Mamdani attend New York City’s 9/11 memorial?

A participant is a subject of the case. A speaker has a statement documented in it. A commentator has an opinion or editorial documented in it.

Case

Should Zohran Mamdani attend New York City’s 9/11 memorial?

Relationship to this case: Speaker

Rudy Giuliani, George Pataki, and some September 11 victims’ relatives opposed Zohran Mamdani attending the 2026 memorial, citing his rhetoric and associations. Mamdani said he would honor victims; other elected officials and a family group said excluding the sitting mayor would politicize the commemoration.

IslamophobiaSeptember 11 AttacksUpdated