Mike Massaroli, the son of 9/11 victim Michael Massaroli, delivered a poignant address at the conclusion of the annual name-reading ceremony for those killed in the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. Speaking after ceremonies held across New York, Pennsylvania, and Virginia, Massaroli issued a direct challenge to politicians and the public, urging them to cease using the memory of the nearly 3,000 victims to propagate hatred against Muslims.
During the event at Ground Zero in New York, where all living former U.S. presidents were in attendance, the proceedings included a moment of silence dedicated to those who have since passed away due to illnesses linked to the aftermath of the attacks. Massaroli, who was six years old when his father was killed, emphasized that his father’s legacy—and the legacies of all victims—are not honored by the weaponization of the tragedy. He noted that for 25 years, he has witnessed people invoke the attacks to promote hostility toward those who are Muslim or perceived as "different," calling such actions fundamentally wrong.
Reflecting on the diversity of the memorial, Massaroli observed that the ceremony brought together individuals of all races, religions, and creeds. He insisted that the event remains, at its core, a shared tragedy. His father, Michael Massaroli, was a vice-president at the financial services firm Cantor Fitzgerald and was among the more than 600 employees from the company who died following the attacks on the World Trade Center.
The commemoration saw significant political presence. President Donald Trump paid his respects at the Pentagon, while former presidents George W. Bush, who was in office during the attacks, and Democrats Joe Biden, Barack Obama, and Bill Clinton joined Vice President JD Vance at the Ground Zero site in lower Manhattan. The day’s events were marked by a heavy police presence, particularly as a small anti-Islam protest marched toward Ground Zero, flanked by counter-protesters. The attacks in 2001 involved nineteen al-Qaeda terrorists who hijacked four airliners; two hit the Twin Towers, one struck the Pentagon, and a fourth—believed to have been aiming for Congress or the White House—crashed in Pennsylvania after passengers and crew fought back against the hijackers.
