'Let us have our peace': Fearing disruption at Ground Zero, 9/11 families ask Mamdani to stay away
US AFFAIRS: Families of 9/11 victims are urging New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani to skip the 25th anniversary ceremony at Ground Zero, saying his presence could disrupt their day of mourning.
Monica Iken and her husband Michael Patrick Iken were set to celebrate their second wedding anniversary on September 9, 2001. However, Michael's last words to Monica before the tragic event shattered their plans forever. On that fateful Tuesday morning, Michael, a bond broker working in the South Tower of the World Trade Center, kissed Monica goodbye and told her to turn on the television.
Minutes later, the horrifying scene of a plane hitting the North Tower flashed across the screen. Despite Michael's attempts to reassure her, Monica knew something was terribly wrong. When she tried to call their loved ones, Michael insisted that they stay put and not worry. Hours later, the unthinkable had happened – Michael was gone, and Monica was left to grapple with the unbearable loss.
Haunted by her grief, Monica decided to take action and establish September's Mission, an NGO dedicated to preserving the World Trade Center site and preventing its development into another commercial hub. She and her fellow advocates managed to secure half of the 16-acre site for the Ground Zero memorial. For Monica, the memorial is a sacred space where she goes to honor her husband. Celebrating her husband's birthday and other milestones at the memorial provides her with a sense of connection and solace.
Monica's focus has been on supporting the families of those who lost loved ones on 9/11. She helps them cope with mental health challenges and provides educational programming. As a result of her dedication, Monica spends a significant amount of her own time and resources working with the families. This commitment to her fellow New Yorkers becomes evident when discussing Mayor Zohran Mamdani's planned attendance at the 25th-year memorial event.
When Monica learned about Mamdani's intent to attend the ceremony, she expressed her deep concerns about the impact it would have on the families. While she acknowledges Mamdani as her city's mayor and recognizes him as a fellow New Yorker, she feels that his presence at the event would be disrespectful. Monica believes Mamdani's support for extremist ideologies and refusal to unequivocally condemn antisemitism make him an unsuitable figure to represent the city on such a solemn occasion.
One family member, Giovanni Galante, has even gone as far as launching a petition demanding Mamdani's exclusion from the memorial events due to his association with extremism.
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