Full Breakdown
Mayor’s 9/11 Pen Hand-off Sparks Outcry
9/7/2026, 5:02:53 AM
Core Event – Pen Transfer at 9/11 Remembrance
On the day the city designated a citywide day of remembrance for the September 11 attacks, New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani signed two executive orders and then handed the ceremonial 9/11 pen to Ramzi Kassem, the mayor’s chief counsel. The pen was first passed to NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch, who was instructed to give it to Kassem. The hand-off occurred during a press briefing that was meant to honor the victims and first responders of the attacks.
Background & Context – 9/11 Remembrance and Kassem’s Past
The 25th anniversary of the September 11 attacks is being marked with a series of citywide ceremonies. Kassem, a lawyer who previously defended Ahmed al-Darbi—a Guantánamo detainee who pleaded guilty to war-crime charges tied to al-Qaeda plots against commercial ships—has long been involved in legal work that intersects with the ideology behind the 9/11 attacks. He also founded a CUNY legal clinic that provides free representation to Muslims and has represented Mahmoud Khalil, a leader of a pro-Palestinian encampment at Columbia University.
Official Statements & Responses – City Hall, Kassem, NYPD
— a detail supplied by the mayor’s office. Commissioner Tisch said she handed the pen to Kassem as directed by the mayor, noting that the transfer was procedural. Kassem has not publicly commented on the criticism surrounding the gesture.
Criticism & Opposition – Elected Officials and Families
The pen hand-off drew immediate backlash on social media and from elected officials. Council Member Joann Ariola (R-Queens) condemned the act, stating:
“It shows exactly where his loyalties truly lie,” — Council Member Joann Ariola
Families of 9/11 victims, including Dennis Warchola, whose brother died in the North Tower, called the pen transfer “bulls-t .”
Conflicting Reports & Gaps – Discrepancies About Kassem’s Role
No official comment has clarified whether Kassem was invited as a legal advisor for the orders or appeared independently. Additionally, the mayor’s office has not responded to requests for comment on the criticism.
What’s Next – Upcoming Anniversary Observances and Potential Fallout
The city’s 25th-anniversary commemorations are scheduled for later this month, with additional ceremonies planned across New York. City officials have indicated that security measures will be heightened, but no further statements have been made about whether the pen controversy will affect future programming or the mayor’s standing with community groups. The episode is likely to remain a point of discussion as the city prepares for the solemn observances.
