“Don’t Use 9/11 to Fuel Hatred Against Muslims”: Victim’s Son Appeals
NEW YORK — Mike Massaroli, who lost his father in the 9/11 attacks, delivered a powerful message against hatred at the close of the annual reading of victims’ names. “Using this tragedy to spread hate does no justice to my father’s legacy or that of all the victims,” he said. Massaroli, who was only six…
NEW YORK — Mike Massaroli, who lost his father in the 9/11 attacks, delivered a powerful message against hatred at the close of the annual reading of victims’ names. “Using this tragedy to spread hate does no justice to my father’s legacy or that of all the victims,” he said. Massaroli, who was only six when his father died, noted that over the past 25 years he has watched people invoke 9/11 to hate Muslims and others who “don’t look like them” — calling it “wrong.”
Ceremonies were held in New York, Pennsylvania, and Virginia, attended by all living former US presidents — Bush, Clinton, Obama, and Biden — along with Vice President JD Vance, while President Trump paid tribute at the Pentagon. A small group of anti-Islam protesters gathered near City Hall under heavy police presence, with counter-protesters also present. According to Brown University’s Costs of War project, post-9/11 wars have killed an estimated 4.5 to 4.7 million people.
