Blakeman urges attendees to turn backs on Mamdani at 9/11 memorial

Bruce Blakeman, the Republican candidate in New York’s gubernatorial race, said Wednesday that attendees at this year’s Sept. 11 memorial ceremony should turn their backs on New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani if he attends.

“I would equate this to a wake. You don’t go to a wake if you’re not welcome,” Blakeman, whose nephew was killed in the South Tower on Sept. 11, 2001, and who currently serves as Nassau County executive, 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,” he said.

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Blakeman argued Mamdani’s refusal to condemn the phrase “globalize the intifada” should disqualify him from attending the ceremony marking the 25th anniversary of the terrorist attacks.

“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 immediately respond to a request for comment from Digital.

The mayor has said he still plans to attend the ceremony.

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New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani during an announcement on municipal grocery stores at a Campaign for Hunger community food distribution center in Brooklyn on July 27, 2026. (Adam Gray/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

“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 comments came after relatives of Sept. 11 victims launched a petition urging the National September 11 Memorial & Museum to bar Mamdani from attending the ceremony in Lower Manhattan.

“Concerns have been raised about Mr. Mamdani’s public positions, associations, and responses to rhetoric that many perceive as hostile to these shared values,” the Change.org petition states.

“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.”

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Bruce Blakeman, Nassau County executive and Republican candidate for New York governor, who is running to unseat Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul and has secured President Donald Trump’s endorsement. (Victor J. Blue/Bloomberg/Getty Images)

A spokesperson for the 9/11 Memorial & Museum previously told Digital that 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,” the spokesperson added.

Former New York Gov. George Pataki was also asked Wednesday whether Mamdani should attend the ceremony.

“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, according to the New York Post.

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The 9/11 Memorial in the financial district of Lower Manhattan, New York at the site of World Trade Center. (iStock)

Digital’s Charles Creitz contributed to this report.