9/11 anniversary turns tense as fury over Mamdani spills into street, march targets Ground Zero

NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK: A protest march over Mayor Zohran Mamdani's attendance at the 25th anniversary commemoration of the September 11 attacks unfolded in Lower Manhattan on Friday, bringing a weeks-long political dispute into the streets as the city held its annual ceremony at Ground Zero.

Videos from the scene showed demonstrators beginning what organizers called the “Crusader March” toward the 9/11 Memorial.

The demonstration came after Mamdani attended the remembrance ceremony despite objections from some victims' relatives and political figures. 

Mamdani, New York City's first Muslim mayor, said he was attending in his official capacity to honor those killed in the attacks, their families, and first responders.

March follows weeks of opposition

Opposition to Mamdani's attendance had been building before the anniversary.

Relatives of some 9/11 victims delivered a petition to City Hall asking him not to participate.

Former New York officials and other critics also publicly objected.

Part of the criticism centered on Mamdani's appointment of Ramzi Kassem as the city's chief legal counsel.

Critics cited Kassem's past legal representation of a convicted al Qaeda member.

Mamdani said he would carry out his responsibility as mayor and attend the ceremony.

Ahead of the anniversary, his office declared September 11 a citywide Day of Remembrance and Service and released more than 170,000 pages of city records related to the attacks and their aftermath.

Protest moves through Lower Manhattan

Jake Lang arrived near City Hall carrying a large banner depicting the Twin Towers during the September 11 attacks, according to videos posted online.

Barricades had been set up around City Hall before the demonstration as police prepared for protesters and counterprotesters.

Videos showed opposing groups gathering near each other, while Lang's group began its march through Lower Manhattan. 

Counterprotesters were also seen demonstrating nearby.

The march took place separately from the official ceremony at Ground Zero, where families read the names of those killed and moments of silence marked key points from the morning of September 11, 2001.

Ground Zero ceremony went ahead

The annual ceremony proceeded at the 9/11 Memorial as families, first responders, political leaders, and former officials gathered to mark 25 years since the attacks. Nearly 3,000 people were killed on September 11, 2001. 

This year's commemoration included a seventh moment of silence recognizing people who later died from illnesses linked to toxic debris exposure following the collapse of the Twin Towers.

Mamdani attended alongside other New York political figures as victims' names were read aloud throughout the ceremony.

The official event remained focused on remembrance and the families still affected by the attacks.

Zohran Mamdani and AOC draw attention

Mamdani's appearance at Ground Zero had drawn attention before Friday's ceremony.

Video from the event circulated online showing Mamdani and Rep Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez briefly talking and laughing together while the ceremony was underway.

The footage did not establish what prompted the exchange.

In the days leading up to the anniversary, Mamdani issued executive orders establishing September 11 as an annual Day of Remembrance and Service.

He also released previously withheld city records related to post-9/11 air quality and met with first responders and families affected by the attacks.

Clashes add to day's tensions

Videos posted from outside City Hall appeared to show confrontations between protesters and counterprotesters, with police officers intervening as tensions rose.

Some footage showed scuffles and punches being thrown. 

Reports of arrests circulated online, though the specific circumstances could not be independently confirmed at the time of publication.