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September 11 Attacks

Public disputes concerning the September 11, 2001 attacks, their aftermath, memorials, official records, and effects on survivors and responders.

Related cases

Case

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

Former Mayor Rudy Giuliani, former Gov. George Pataki, and some relatives of September 11 victims say Mayor Zohran Mamdani should not attend the 2026 commemoration, citing concerns about his rhetoric and associations. Mamdani says he will attend to honor victims, families, survivors, and first responders. Other elected officials and September 11th Families for Peaceful Tomorrows say excluding the sitting mayor would politicize a ceremony meant for collective remembrance. The dispute is over the civic meaning and appropriateness of attendance, not over whether Mamdani has endorsed the September 11 attacks.

Statements

Rudy Giuliani

Role at the time: Statement issued by an unnamed spokesperson for Rudy Giuliani, as quoted by WABC

Challenged the characterization

Responding to

Zohran Mamdani administration's release of post-9/11 air-quality and health records

"attempting to score cheap partisan political points"
Why we used this label

The representative disputes the characterization of local officials' responsibility and defends Giuliani's administration. This is reported representative speech, not a verified direct quotation spoken personally by Giuliani.

FDNY union leaders demand accountability after records release; Giuliani spokesperson responds (opens in a new tab)Direct quotations from James Brosi and Robert Eustace, followed by Giuliani spokesperson's statement

Cheri Sparacio

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

Condemned

Responding to

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

"It is strictly about the policies that he has today"
Why we used this label

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

CNN interviews Shahana Hanif and Cheri Sparacio about Mamdani's memorial attendance (opens in a new tab)Hanif and Sparacio quotations in Partisan rancor threatens solemn unity of 9/11 ceremony

Shahana Hanif

Role at the time: New York City Council member giving her own interview response

Defended or excused

Responding to

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

"being treated differently simply because he is Muslim"
Why we used this label

She directly challenges the exclusion campaign and defends Mamdani's participation; her account of the opponents' motivation is attributed rather than independently established.

CNN interviews Shahana Hanif and Cheri Sparacio about Mamdani's memorial attendance (opens in a new tab)Hanif and Sparacio quotations in Partisan rancor threatens solemn unity of 9/11 ceremony

Gale Brewer

Role at the time: New York City Council member

Defended or excused

Responding to

Zohran Mamdani administration's release of post-9/11 air-quality and health records

"a crucial first step"
Why we used this label

Supports disclosure. Classification is limited to the disclosure decision.

City Hall transcript: September 8 post-9/11 records announcement (opens in a new tab)Speaker sections: Jon Stewart; Tom Hart; Ben Chevat; Jerry Nadler; Carolyn Maloney; Gale Brewer

Carolyn Maloney

Role at the time: Former U.S. representative from New York

Defended or excused

Responding to

Zohran Mamdani administration's release of post-9/11 air-quality and health records

"courage, good values and good decisions"
Why we used this label

Supports this action. Classification is limited to the disclosure decision.

City Hall transcript: September 8 post-9/11 records announcement (opens in a new tab)Speaker sections: Jon Stewart; Tom Hart; Ben Chevat; Jerry Nadler; Carolyn Maloney; Gale Brewer

Jerry Nadler

Role at the time: U.S. representative from New York

Defended or excused

Responding to

Zohran Mamdani administration's release of post-9/11 air-quality and health records

"betrayed that trust"
Why we used this label

The quoted criticism concerns earlier officials. His full remarks explicitly support the present disclosure, not every policy of Mamdani. Classification is limited to the disclosure decision.

Nadler's official remarks on the release of post-9/11 records (opens in a new tab)Remarks on historical withholding and closing paragraphs welcoming disclosure

Ben Chevat

Role at the time: Executive director of 9/11 Health Watch

Defended or excused

Responding to

Zohran Mamdani administration's release of post-9/11 air-quality and health records

"begins to answer the question"
Why we used this label

Supports disclosure. Classification is limited to the disclosure decision.

City Hall transcript: September 8 post-9/11 records announcement (opens in a new tab)Speaker sections: Jon Stewart; Tom Hart; Ben Chevat; Jerry Nadler; Carolyn Maloney; Gale Brewer

Tom Hart

Role at the time: President of IUOE Local 94

Defended or excused

Responding to

Zohran Mamdani administration's release of post-9/11 air-quality and health records

"first step"
Why we used this label

Supports disclosure. Classification is limited to the disclosure decision.

City Hall transcript: September 8 post-9/11 records announcement (opens in a new tab)Speaker sections: Jon Stewart; Tom Hart; Ben Chevat; Jerry Nadler; Carolyn Maloney; Gale Brewer

Jon Stewart

Role at the time: Comedian and September 11 health-care advocate

Defended or excused

Responding to

Zohran Mamdani administration's release of post-9/11 air-quality and health records

"thank you to the mayor"
Why we used this label

Explicit praise for disclosure. Classification is limited to the disclosure decision.

City Hall transcript: September 8 post-9/11 records announcement (opens in a new tab)Speaker sections: Jon Stewart; Tom Hart; Ben Chevat; Jerry Nadler; Carolyn Maloney; Gale Brewer

Joann Ariola

Role at the time: Member of the New York City Council

Condemned

Responding to

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

"“demanded that Mayor Mamdani stay away from this year’s ceremonies”"
Why we used this label

Her public statement expressly supports non-attendance.

Families deliver petition urging Mamdani to skip 9/11 ceremony (opens in a new tab)Joann Ariola statement about September 8 City Hall event

Mark Levine

Role at the time: Manhattan borough president

Defended or excused

Responding to

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

"“won’t listen to him”"
Why we used this label

He opposed the demand and supported Mamdani proceeding with attendance.

Jumaane Williams

Role at the time: New York City public advocate

Challenged the characterization

Responding to

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

"“should have shut up”"
Why we used this label

The statement challenges the legitimacy of Giuliani's intervention rather than separately explaining attendance.

Chuck Schumer

Role at the time: United States senator from New York

Defended or excused

Responding to

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

"“of course he should be at 9/11”"
Why we used this label

He explicitly said Mamdani should attend.

Kathy Hochul

Role at the time: Governor of New York

Defended or excused

Responding to

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

"“wildly inappropriate”"
Why we used this label

She directly rejected the exclusion demand and defended inclusive attendance.

Zohran Mamdani

Role at the time: Mayor of New York City

Defended or excused

Responding to

Zohran Mamdani said he will attend the 2026 commemoration to honor people affected by the September 11 attacks and described the attacks as a horrific act of terror.

"“What I want this week to be a focus on is on the families whose loved ones were stolen from them 25 years ago in the horrific act of terror of September 11.”"
Why we used this label

Mamdani explicitly defended proceeding with his planned attendance.

FOX 5 New York: Mamdani confirms 9/11 memorial attendance (opens in a new tab)Mayor’s remarks at West Indian Day Parade breakfast

Rudy Giuliani

Role at the time: Former mayor of New York City during the September 11, 2001 attacks

Condemned

Responding to

Rudy Giuliani said Mayor Zohran Mamdani should skip the 2026 9/11 memorial and characterized Mamdani’s attendance as offensive.

"“Having lost friends there and being very close to many of the families, it offends me that he’s coming.”"
Why we used this label

Giuliani expressly urged exclusion from the ceremony and framed Mamdani as unsuitable to attend.

Maureen Santora

Role at the time: 9/11 family member

Mixed or conditional

Responding to

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

"“I just hope that he doesn’t say a single word”"
Why we used this label

Her stated condition concerns silence at the ceremony, not attendance itself.

Angie Pesce

Role at the time: 9/11 family member

Condemned

Responding to

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

"“he’ll show up to be spiteful”"
Why we used this label

She condemned his planned attendance by attributing a hostile motive to it.

George Pataki

Role at the time: Former governor of New York

Condemned

Responding to

George Pataki said Mamdani should not attend because of Mamdani’s continuing association with Hasan Piker and his past response to the phrase “globalize the intifada.”

"“Anyone who has refused to reject the phrase ‘globalize the intifada’ ... should not be at that site.”"
Why we used this label

Pataki directly called for Mamdani to skip the memorial.

Older statements

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