Ms Rachel defends 'awesome' Mamdani amid 9/11 memorial controversy, says he's victim of Islamophobic attacks, tell me about this news in (https://www.foxnews.com/media/ms-rachel-defends-awesome-mamdani-amid-911-memorial-controversy-says-victim-islamophobic-attacks)
11-09-2026
According to the Fox News article, popular children’s educator and influencer Ms. Rachel (Rachel Accurso) publicly defended New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani amid widespread pushback regarding his participation in the 25th anniversary of the September 11 memorial services.Key points from the report include:
- Ms. Rachel’s Defense: On Instagram, Ms. Rachel praised Mamdani, calling him “awesome” and describing him as a “kind, gentle soul” who genuinely cares about New Yorkers. She condemned the attacks against him, calling it unacceptable that people still judge, hate, and attack others based on religion and skin color. In her caption, she voiced disappointment over Islamophobic rhetoric from some Christians, pointing to the Good Samaritan parable and noting that Jesus taught neighborly love across religious lines.
- The Controversy Around Mayor Mamdani: Mamdani, the city’s first Muslim mayor, faced heavy backlash from critics, Republican officials, and families of 9/11 victims who urged him not to attend the memorial ceremonies.
- The Objections Cited: An online petition signed by over 100,000 people and led by victims’ families pointed to past associations and rhetoric, including:
- His past praise for Brooklyn Imam Siraj Wahhaj, who was named an unindicted co-conspirator in the 1993 World Trade Center bombing.
- His endorsement of candidates like Aber Kawas, who made controversial statements regarding 9/11 and expressed sympathy for an individual who plotted to bomb a Manhattan synagogue.
- Past ties to political commentator Hasan Piker (who had previously faced scrutiny for past remarks about 9/11, though Mamdani has condemned those comments).
- Criticism over presenting a ceremonial pen from a 9/11 remembrance ceremony to his chief counsel, Ramzi Kassem, who previously served as a defense attorney representing a convicted al-Qaeda member tied to a 9/11 hijacker.