January 1, GOP Challenger Calls for Stunning Protest Against Radical Mayor at 9/11 Ceremony

Wyatt’s Take

• A Republican gubernatorial candidate with direct family ties to 9/11 is urging attendees to turn their backs on NYC’s far-left mayor if he shows up at this year’s ceremony
• The mayor refuses to condemn “globalize the intifada” — the same radical rhetoric that fueled the hatred behind the attacks
• 9/11 families have launched a petition demanding he be banned entirely, but organizers say they won’t block any elected official

Bruce Blakeman, the Republican challenging for New York’s governorship, didn’t mince words Wednesday when he called on 9/11 ceremony attendees to stage a silent protest against New York City’s radical mayor Zohran Mamdani. Blakeman’s nephew died in the South Tower on September 11, 2001.

“I would equate this to a wake. You don’t go to a wake if you’re not welcome,” Blakeman told reporters.

“I think it’s completely appropriate if family members ask him not to come, but if he does come, I think there’s a respectful and peaceful way to protest that and I would suggest that people turn their back on the mayor.”

The Nassau County executive drew a clear line in the sand over Mamdani’s refusal to condemn the inflammatory phrase “globalize the intifada.” That slogan has become a rallying cry for anti-Israel protesters and connects directly to the same radical Islamic terrorism that murdered nearly 3,000 Americans on 9/11.

“He’s not welcome there because he has yet to say anything in opposition to the global intifada. As a matter of fact, it seems like he supports that phrase, which is part of the reason why we had the tragedy we had on 9/11,” Blakeman said.

Mamdani’s office did not respond to requests for comment. The mayor has previously stated he still plans to attend the 25th anniversary ceremony at Ground Zero.

“I will proudly honor the families, the survivors, the first responders forever impacted by that horrific terror attack by standing alongside them at this year’s 9/11 commemoration — reaffirming that we will never forget the solemn day…” Mamdani said last week.

His insistence on attending comes after relatives of September 11 victims launched a petition demanding the National September 11 Memorial & Museum bar him from the ceremony entirely. The petition raises serious concerns about the mayor’s “public positions, associations, and responses to rhetoric that many perceive as hostile to these shared values.”

“Given these concerns, we respectfully ask that the organizers carefully consider whether Mr. Mamdani’s participation would align with the intention of the ceremony and the expectations of the families most directly affected by the tragedy.”

But the museum says it won’t get political. A spokesperson told reporters the organization has “intentionally worked to keep the commemoration free of politics because remembering those we lost on 9/11 should never be a partisan issue.”

“Government officials from across the political spectrum, including every sitting president, governor, and mayor since 9/11, have attended the ceremony simply to bear witness — they do not deliver remarks and are asked to remain in a designated area.”

That policy clearly doesn’t sit well with grieving families who lost loved ones to Islamic terrorism. Former New York Governor George Pataki was asked the same question Wednesday and left the door open to backing the protest.

“It’s my nature to be inclusive, and that is my instinct, but Sept. 11 is different. So, I may have comments on that,” Pataki said.

Why It Matters

This isn’t about politics — it’s about respect for the dead and accountability for those in power. When elected officials refuse to condemn the same radical ideology that killed thousands of Americans, families have every right to say they’re not welcome at a memorial built on sacred ground. September 11 should unite us against terrorism, not become a platform for leaders who won’t take a clear stand against it.