Retired Port Authority officers ask Mamdani, Hochul to skip 9/11 commemoration
Retired Port Authority police officers sent letters to New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani and Governor Kathy Hochul, asking them not to attend the 25th anniversary 9/11 ceremony at Ground Zero. The officers said their presence would cause deep pain to victims' families and first responders, citing concerns about Mamdani's public statements and associations. They suggested the officials recognize the anniversary through written statements or separate events.
The letters, dated August 14, were signed by John McDevitt, president of the Port Authority Retired Police Association, and addressed to both Democratic officials. The association represents retired officers from the agency that lost 37 police officers and 47 additional members in the 2001 attacks, making the World Trade Center a deeply personal site for its membership.
The correspondence to Hochul specifically cited her decision to illuminate One World Trade Center for Muslim American Heritage Month, which the officers called insensitive and politically motivated. The group proposed that both officials honor the anniversary through written statements or separate observances rather than attending the main ceremony at Ground Zero.
This dispute could intensify public debate about who legitimately participates in national remembrance events and how political figures are received at them. Families of victims, first responders, and the broader 9/11 community may feel their grief is being politicized, while supporters of the officials may view the exclusion effort as an attempt to silence elected leadership. The outcome could influence how future anniversaries handle official participation and set precedents for balancing ceremonial tradition with political accountability.