John,
Today, I want to take a moment to reflect on the 20th anniversary of 9/11.
Every New Yorker remembers September 11, 2001 in vivid detail. We can all recall the fear and anxiety of knowing that our city and our country were under attack as we watched two flights collide into the World Trade Center.
Personally, I can recall the fear in parents' voices as they came to pick up their kids from school, wanting to hold them and ensure their safety in a time of uncertainty.
I can recall the paranoia of feeling the need to protect my newborn son at every moment — and laying my head to rest at night never knowing if the attacks would continue, not knowing who was safe and who wasn't at any given moment.
I want to extend my gratitude to the first responders who spent that day and those following on the front lines. Members of the New York City Fire Department, Police Department, and Emergency Medical Services risked their lives, even running into the towers to rescue people as rubble fell around them. Many of those first responders are still experiencing mental trauma or physical illness as a result.
I also want to acknowledge those whose loss has gone undocumented, and send love, strength and healing to those who survived the attack, knowing that they live on with the pain of witnessing first hand one of the great tragedies in our lifetimes. Many of those survivors are part of our NY-16 community, and as their congressman, I want to ensure that they know they are supported and protected, just as I wanted my family to be on that fateful day.
We must also acknowledge the proliferation of Islamophobia in the aftermath of the attacks — Islamophobia that led to unlawful surveillance and impacts the Muslim community to this day. It is our ongoing responsibility to come together in love by lifting each other up and eradicating all forms of prejudice and hatred.
It is my hope that in acknowledging, reflecting upon, and mourning the immeasurable loss and tragedy of 9/11, we can recommit to working alongside one another in building an even stronger New York City and a stronger nation.
Peace and love,
Jamaal Bowman
