A relative of a firefighter killed on Sept. 11, 2001, warned that public officials who refuse to denounce the slogan globalize the intifada are “inviting another 9/11.” His comments came during a remembrance ceremony in New York City on Thursday, with a clear reference to socialist mayoral front-runner Zohran Mamdani.
“I know my cousin Steve and many, many others would agree with me when I say: Let’s continue to press all politicians, including those who went home already, to firmly renounce terror and violence,” Mike Weinstein said. “When political candidates and public officials refuse to condemn global terror and phrases like ‘globalize the intifada,’ they are inviting another 9/11, God forbid. And they continue to bring daily fear for all New Yorkers.”
Weinstein’s cousin, firefighter Stephen Belson, died rescuing people from the South Tower. Weinstein urged candidates to set aside politics and unite: “We need all political candidates, including every single potential future mayor—and you know who I’m talking about—of this great city to speak out against terror and unite as freedom-loving New Yorkers.”
Mamdani has defended the phrase as “a desperate desire for equality and equal rights in standing up for Palestinian human rights.” The United States Holocaust Memorial Museum strongly disagreed, writing: “Since 1987 Jews have been attacked and murdered under its banner. All leaders must condemn its use and the abuse of history.”
