What the governor did
Governor Kathy Hochul issued a proclamation declaring January as Muslim American Heritage Month for New York State and directed 16 state landmarks to be illuminated green for the observance. The governor said the lighting honors the contributions and culture of Muslim Americans and aims to protect the community from hate and bias. The announcement included a list of sites and a short statement posted on X by the governor.
Which landmarks were lit
The list of locations includes One World Trade Center as well as the Mario M. Cuomo Bridge, Kosciuszko Bridge, Empire State Plaza, Grand Central Terminal, Niagara Falls, and others across the state. Officials said the green illumination was planned for Friday night to mark the start of the month long recognition.
Why some people reacted strongly
The timing sparked debate. Critics pointed out the history of Islamist terror attacks on 9/11 that killed almost 3,000 people in New York and beyond. Supporters argued the lighting celebrates Muslim Americans who serve their communities and highlights inclusion. Both sides are using facts and emotion to make their case, and many New Yorkers feel strong about symbols tied to Ground Zero.
Context about 9/11 and prior attacks
On September 11, 2001, al Qaeda operatives hijacked four passenger jets, hitting the Twin Towers and the Pentagon, and a fourth plane crashed in Pennsylvania after passengers intervened. Earlier, a 1993 truck bombing at the World Trade Center killed six and injured many more. Those events are central to why some New Yorkers respond sensitively when officials highlight Muslim heritage in public displays.
Official responses and local leaders
Gov. Hochul said New York is a beacon of tolerance and that Muslim communities make the state stronger. New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, who was sworn in recently as the city’s first Muslim mayor, thanked the governor and said recognition helps Muslim New Yorkers feel seen. Other elected officials and community leaders offered statements both supporting and questioning the timing.
What to watch next
Expect continued debate in media and on social platforms about public symbols and how government marks cultural observances. Officials will likely point to inclusivity and anti hate measures while critics will press historical and security concerns. This moment is a reminder that symbols matter and that leaders must balance recognition with sensitivity to history.
The bone-chilling footage of the moment when the plane hit World Trade Center on September 11 (9/11) pic.twitter.com/yZOPaUmbmD
— Know Your History (@H54355Know) February 1, 2024
The resilience, compassion, and contributions of Muslim communities help make our state stronger.
Tonight landmarks across the state are lit green as New York celebrates Muslim American Heritage Month. pic.twitter.com/5AFw9dsgof
— Governor Kathy Hochul (@GovKathyHochul) January 2, 2026
WE’D LOVE TO HEAR YOUR THOUGHTS! PLEASE COMMENT BELOW.
JIMMY
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Just another reason I will never visit this POS state. F**K this BI++H
They are lighting the landmarks up so it will be easier for Muslims to target them now….thanks Kathy you (pos)
I’d F**k her too, but only with a sharp 10 foot pole.
They have a neck for making UN-important, very UN-important topics ‘important’, as they have forgotten ‘who’ attacked them on 9/11, coming, of course, from the UN-important so-called democRAT party!
But of course, moron Kathy Hochul would want to welcome NYCs first and worst muslim mayor Commie Mamdani by celebrating for a month the folks who killed thousands of innocent people on Sept 11, 2001!! Dumb and dumber!
Is there a light show for Christians??? For Jews?….for Buddhists????? The is pandering bs……and a reminder. While we tolerate all religions, America is a secular nation. Governments participating in and funding expressions of adulation and joy over a particular faith ( and a faith with a bad track record regarding tolerance) is not acceptable.
While rebuilding 1 WTC it was claimed the original antenna was not wind resistant for that height. It was the similar design of the original and looked the same.
The replacement antenna, “LOOKS” like a minaret. >wink<
There were murmurs on the web and images.
I was mortified. 9/11 is a forever scar for many of us. Not just annual, but perennial.
When I found out I put posters up inside the site in protest. Made sure everyone knew.
I made the terrible mistake of showing this to one of my co-workers.
He was involved in connecting steel.
Good man. No nonsense.
I'll never forget he look on his face after I showed him the poster. With tears in his eyes he said, "J—-y, why'd you show me this?"
I apologized, sincerely and took down the posters and only talked about it privately after that.
I often dream of that antenna being replaced.
A crushing,, crushing blow for my construction "family" and the many First Responders you grow up with in that business.
I hope I NEVER hear the adhan come from OUR Freedom Tower.
I hope by friend is fairing better than I am today.
Never forget, never forgive, 9/11. Never.
The Bible says even if you brother sins against you 7 times, and yet 7 times he repents, you must forgive. No one has repented 9/11. No muslim has the cahones to step forward and apologize for the actions of their islamic brothers. No repent, no need to forgive.
Hence the true name for the religion, “mudslime”.
Jimmy, Jimmy, Jimmy, why, why, why AGAIN! This and the story of the J6 guy suing for $36 mil??? I just need to give up reading and replying to Steadfast & Loyal!!
I agree.
I’ve been trying to comment all morning.
Is pointless.
Out
I have to approve your first comment – then you are good to go
Very good, JP.
Apologies for the dubba.
I thought that I was giving up too much of our identities in my recounting and was looking for acceptable wording without losing the impact.
This is a very difficult subject for many of Us, as you can see by the passionate comments.
Happy New Year.
Thanks JM – Happy New Year to you as well. Thanks for following SAL!
and I agree – I’ve tried to loosen up the filter, but its a balancing act with my ad vendors – who are what keeps the site alive. We’ll figure it out!
Buzz – all I can think of that its flagging your IP address from prior comments. I’ll keep approving you. some comments get through and I’m loosening up the filter, so hopefully we can improve your comments going through more often without me having to approve them
Please don’t give up. I was in meetings all day, so I didn’t see this message pup up
Hochul and Dems are always bowing down to the Muslim community. They need to pay attention to what has been happening in Europe with Muslims. They destroy every country they infiltrate and move on to the ones they haven’t destroyed yet. They don’t assimilate they overtly dominate areas and have no loyalty to America and it’s culture. They are hell bent on Sharia law and subjugating those around them with Koran ideologies. Libs didn’t take the 90’s World Trade bombings as a sign and kept appeasing until 9/11. Wake up Dems!!
While rebuilding 1 WTC it was claimed the original antenna was not wind resistant for that height. It was the similar design of the original and looked the same.
The replacement antenna, “LOOKS” like a minaret. >wink<
There were murmurs on the web and images.
I was mortified. 9/11 is a forever scar for many of us. Not just annual, but perennial.
When I found out I put posters up inside the site in protest. Made sure everyone knew.
I made the terrible mistake of showing this to one of my co-workers.
He was involved in connecting steel.
Good man. No nonsense.
I'll never forget he look on his face after I showed him the poster. With tears in his eyes he said, "J—-y, why'd you show me this?"
I apologized, sincerely and took down the posters and only talked about it privately after that.
I often dream of that antenna being replaced.
A crushing,, crushing blow for my construction "family" and the many First Responders you grow up with in that business.
I hope I NEVER hear the adhan come from OUR Freedom Tower.
I hope by friend is fairing better than I am today.
Liberals don’t care.
Thank you Jimmy! I assume this Hochul story ended up being culled because I referred to Hochul as a moron – which she is!! But the J6 story about the $36 lawsuit was 100% harmless!
Thats probably what got it Buzz – as it did for this comment. I got you. I also put a message at the bottom of all articles to shoot me an email saying “Jimmy please approve my comment….” if your comment was not posted. Thanks for sticking with me!
No group should ever get its own full month to celebrate itself. If it must be done, add an M for Muslim to the alphabet people Then Muslim and gays and pe%op&iles and pretend men a women can all parade around together.