Actress Patricia Heaton has publicly endorsed a petition calling for New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani to be excluded from the 25th anniversary commemoration of the September 11 attacks at Ground Zero, adding her voice to a campaign led by some family members of victims.
The Everybody Loves Raymond star shared the Change.org petition with her more than 500,000 followers on X, writing, “Keep it going, New Yorkers,” while encouraging support for the initiative.
The petition, launched by Giovanni Galante, whose wife Grace was killed in the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, had gathered nearly 45,000 signatures by Wednesday.
Why Are Some Families Opposing Mamdani’s Attendance?
The petition argues that Mayor Mamdani should not attend the 25th anniversary ceremony because of what organizers describe as his positions on issues related to terrorism and the Israel-Hamas conflict.
Among the concerns raised are Mamdani’s previous refusal to explicitly condemn the slogan “Globalize the Intifada,” as well as criticism of his associations with individuals connected to legal defense work involving terrorism cases. The petition contends that these positions are incompatible with participating in an event honoring the nearly 3,000 people killed in the September 11 attacks.
These allegations reflect the views of the petition’s organizers and have not been established by any court or official finding.
Patricia Heaton’s Support
Heaton amplified the petition on social media by reposting its link and highlighting comments from supporters.
One comment she shared described Mamdani as a “terrorist excuser” and argued that he should be barred from attending the memorial ceremony. The actress did not add further commentary beyond urging New Yorkers to continue supporting the petition.
Heaton has long been outspoken on conservative political and cultural issues and has frequently expressed support for Israel following the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack.
Heaton’s Connection to September 11
Although originally from Ohio, Heaton was in New York City on September 11, 2001, while filming with the cast of Everybody Loves Raymond.
In a post marking the anniversary in 2024, she described experiencing the attacks firsthand, calling it “a terrifying experience.”
In the accompanying video, Heaton compared Hamas to al-Qaeda and argued that terrorism remains a continuing global threat. She also said that those calling on Israel to cease military operations were, in her view, supporting the same ideology responsible for the September 11 attacks.
Those remarks reflected Heaton’s personal opinions regarding the Israel-Hamas conflict.
Mayor Mamdani Responds
When asked whether he intended to attend the September 11 anniversary ceremony, Mayor Mamdani said he plans to participate.
He stated that he would “proudly honor” those affected by the attacks by “standing alongside them” during the commemoration.
Mamdani has not indicated that the petition will alter his plans.
Petition Continues to Gain Attention
The campaign has attracted significant online attention as the 25th anniversary of the attacks approaches.
Its organisers say the ceremony should reflect what they describe as shared American values of remembrance and a rejection of terrorism. Supporters argue that Mamdani’s attendance would be inappropriate, while critics of the petition contend that elected officials have a responsibility to represent all New Yorkers during major civic commemorations.
Whether the petition will have any effect on attendance at the official September 11 ceremony remains unclear.
