Mayor Eric Adams Reflects on 9/11 Anniversary, Warns Against Radicalization in New York City

NEW YORK —Mayor Eric Adams on Thursday reflected on his experience as a New York Police Department lieutenant during the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, urging residents to honor the memory of those lost by remaining resilient and vigilant against radicalization.

As New Yorkers marked the 24th anniversary of the attacks, Adams recalled the night he responded to Ground Zero, where nearly 3,000 people were killed after hijacked planes struck the World Trade Center towers.

“Coming down to the site that evening, and watching the ground smoldering, and seeing two buildings that were the symbols of our strength here in the New York area... those emotions come back,” Adams said. “But also I have the feeling of our resiliency. On 9/12, we got up.”

The mayor, who is seeking re-election, connected those lessons of resilience to today’s challenges, pointing to political unrest in the city and the influence of social media on young people.

“It breaks my heart when I watch the radicalization of our young people through social media and through commentary that they just don’t understand,” Adams said. “We have to constantly remind our young people that this is the greatest country on the globe, and we have enemies, both foreign and domestic, that want to hurt us.”

Memorial Events Across New York City

Commemorations took place across the city, with the largest held at the 9/11 Memorial & Museum in Lower Manhattan. Families of victims gathered to read the names of loved ones, continuing a tradition that has become a solemn marker of remembrance. Bells tolled at moments of silence to honor when the planes struck the towers, when the Pentagon was attacked, and when Flight 93 crashed in Pennsylvania.

Elected leaders, first responders, and survivors joined the public in paying tribute. American flags were raised above firehouses, and schools across the five boroughs paused for moments of silence. In Staten Island, Queens, and Brooklyn, smaller neighborhood vigils honored local residents who never returned home.

Adams said those ceremonies highlight both the enduring pain of loss and the strength of the city to recover. “We stood back up the next day,” he said. “And we have to keep standing together.”

A Message on Resilience and Unity

The mayor emphasized that while the terrorist attacks changed the course of history, they also revealed the determination of New Yorkers. He urged residents not to allow political or ideological divisions to undermine that spirit of unity.

Adams noted that global conflicts, including the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas, have sparked demonstrations and political tensions in New York City. He said he fears some young people may not understand the lessons of 9/11, leaving them vulnerable to misinformation.

“We can never forget that the threats we face are real,” Adams said. “But New York City has always been at its strongest when we come together.”

Looking Ahead

As his administration focuses on public safety and community relations, Adams tied his 9/11 reflections to his broader campaign for re-election. He described New York as a city shaped by resilience, where tragedies have been met with determination and unity.

“Every year we gather not only to mourn but to remind ourselves of who we are,” Adams said. “We are a city that does not back down. We are a people that will always rise again.”

For many New Yorkers, the anniversary remains both deeply personal and profoundly communal—a moment of grief, reflection, and renewed commitment to the values of resilience and solidarity that emerged in the days after the attacks.