Mamdani pays tribute to 9/11 victims, heroes during interfaith walk ending at NYC Islamic center

Mayor Zohran Mamdani and New Yorkers of all faiths took part in a Manhattan 9/11 memorial walk Thursday evening, with stops at Christian, Jewish and Muslim places of worship — but Hizzoner only joined for the final stop at an Islamic center.

A crowd of over 100 people joined the Children of Abraham Peace Walk, an interfaith walk begun a year after the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks to honor those killed, on the eve of the 25th anniversary to stand in solidarity.

Mayor Zohran Mamdani attended the end of an interfaith peace walk Thursday night at the Islamic Center of New York City. Kevin C. Downs for NY Post

The peace walk was created for people to “come together to remember those we’ve lost, and to recommit to our shared vision of safety in solidarity,” according to an online flyer.

Mamdani, however, only came for the end of the commemoration at the Islamic Center of New York City, amid ongoing calls for him to skip 9/11 ceremonies altogether. 

The group had started at the Hebrew Union College before stopping by Judson Church and finishing up at the Islamic Center, where the mayor delivered remarks remembering the victims of 9/11 and thanking first responders and faith leaders for their service during the dark time.

Mamdani commemorated the first responders “who rushed towards horror so that others could rush towards home,” including FDNY Chaplain Mychal Judge, the first recorded death on Sept. 11.

“[Judge] prayed over the bodies that lay in the street before entering the North Tower. Even as the towers began to collapse around, he refused to leave,” Mamdani said.

An online petition has amassed over 111,000 signatures calling for Hizzoner to skip the 9/11 25th anniversary ceremony. Tamara Beckwith/NY Post

“He died in full embrace of faith. That faith, that pure expression of love was extraordinary…it was in many ways the light that New Yorkers showed in our city’s darkest hours.”

Mamdani also praised the “chaplains and reverends, rabbis and imams” alike who “modeled a selflessness and solidarity and helped to guide our city from the wreckage of pain and loss towards recovery.”

Retiree Melina Holm, who attended the peace walk with members from her church, told The Post she
”was thrilled that Mamdani made the effort” to come together with a collection of different faiths. 

“I have always considered myself a daughter of Abraham even though I was raised Catholic. So I was happy to participate in an interfaith walk,” Holm said. 

Mamdani skipped the prior stops at the interfaith walk and instead came for the end at the Islamic Center of New York City. Kevin C. Downs for NY Post

During his speech, Mamdani issued a call-out to bring back “that solidarity into our daily lives and to offer it to everyone of our neighbors however they pray,” noting that solidarity “is a fragile thing.”

Earlier this week, however, a group of aggrieved 9/11 victims’ relatives gathered at City Hall to hand-deliver a petition urging Hizzoner to steer clear of ceremonies marking the 25th anniversary of the terror attacks.

The petition, created by Giovanni Galante, whose wife Grace Catherine Galante was killed in the attacks, has amassed over 111,000 signatures calling on Mamdani to forgo the emotion-filled ceremony. 

Hizzoner delivered remarks at the end of the walk, honoring the victims of 9/11 – including FDNY Chaplain Mychal Judge. Kevin C. Downs for NY Post

Over a dozen mourners shared their frustration with the mayor’s confirmed attendance at Friday’s annual ceremony at the National September 11 Memorial during which the names of all 2,983 victims of the attacks will be read aloud.

Some of the families called out Mamdani for hiring Ramzi Kassem — who represented an al Qaeda terrorist held at Guantánamo Bay in 2014 — as his chief counsel.

“It’s not about his religion or where he came from. It’s about the policies he has today,” said Cheri Sparacio, who lost her husband, Tom Sparacio, on the 84th floor of the South Tower.

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