Mayor Zohran Mamdani will join city leaders, families of 9/11 victims and first responders Friday as New York City marks the 25th anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.
Mamdani has said he wants the day to focus on the nearly 3,000 people killed in the attacks, their families and the first responders who rushed to the scene.
“I’m proud to be the mayor of this city. I love this city. I love this country,” Mamdani said this week. “What I want this week to be a focus on is on the families whose loved ones were stolen from them 25 years ago in the horrific act of terror of Sept. 11, and a focus also on the first responders who did everything they could.”
Where will Mamdani be on 9/11?
Mamdani is expected to attend the annual remembrance ceremony at the 9/11 Memorial
in Lower Manhattan, where victims’ names will be read.
The ceremony is not open to the general public. Security will be extensive, with the NYPD and Secret Service securing the area around Ground Zero for invited family members, elected officials and other guests.
The mayor's attendance has drawn some controversy. Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani, who held the position during the 2001 attacks, has publicly called on Mamdani to stay away from the ceremony.
Mamdani has not directly respond to Giuliani's comments, instead saying the anniversary should remain focused on the victims and first responders.
He also recently designated Sept. 11 as an official citywide “Day of Remembrance and Service.” The order calls for a moment of silence, memorial ceremonies and educational programming while encouraging New Yorkers to participate in service activities.
Mamdani has spent the days leading up to the anniversary attending ceremonies honoring 9/11 victims and first responders, including an FDNY World Trade Center Memorial Wall dedication.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Where will Mamdani be for the 9/11 anniversary in NYC?
