New York gubernatorial candidate Bruce Blakeman urged 9/11 attendees to turn away from NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani at memorial

New York gubernatorial candidate Bruce Blakeman urged people attending Sept. 11 memorial events to “turn their backs” on New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani during the ceremony, drawing attention to Mamdani’s stance on a pro-Palestinian slogan, Fox News Politics reported on Aug. 6.

According to the report, Blakeman said attendees should not engage with Mamdani at the 9/11 memorial because Mamdani has refused to condemn the phrase “globalize the intifada.” Blakeman’s comments framed the issue as one of public acknowledgment of messages he views as tied to violence.

The remarks were made in the context of ongoing political debate over what elected officials should say, or refrain from saying, about conflicts in the Middle East and about how city and state leaders are perceived during public ceremonies tied to national security and public mourning.

Mamdani has not been described in the Fox report as issuing a condemnation of “globalize the intifada,” which Blakeman cited as the basis for telling attendees to reject him during the memorial. The report characterizes the exchange as a dispute over condemnation, speech norms at civic events, and the meaning of public statements by officials.

The controversy also reflects broader legal and practical questions about the scope of officials’ political speech and how political figures are treated at public gatherings. While candidates can urge citizen behavior, the report does not indicate any change to ceremony rules, security plans, or official protocol for the memorial itself.

Blakeman’s call comes from within the gubernatorial campaign setting, where candidates often differentiate themselves on public safety and national security themes. The Fox report places his comments in that framework by linking the memorial setting to his view that political language associated with “globalize the intifada” is unacceptable.

It was not immediately clear from the report whether the candidate’s request would influence the seating or participation decisions of city or state officials, or whether any law enforcement or memorial organizer would treat the statement as guidance for security and logistics. The next step would be clarification from organizers on how public attendance and official appearances are handled if politically charged disputes arise near major civic events.