As the country approaches the 25th anniversary of the September 11 attacks, the public campaign schedule for Michigan Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed does not include a remembrance event for that day. Instead, his campaign website lists staff and volunteers for Grand Rapids’ Fiesta Mexicana, a nearby farmers market, and the Allegan County Fair, alongside a stop on his “Shouldn’t Be This Hard” tour.
Fiesta Mexicana bills itself as “three days of mariachi, folklórico and forty-some vendors” meant to “make sure Mexican culture is known, understood and celebrated in West Michigan — on our own terms.” El-Sayed’s campaign has told supporters to “bring some Mexican swag” and “go inside to enjoy the music and get some food.” The Allegan County Fair on the same list features live entertainment, food, games and rides.
When asked about the absence of a 9/11 remembrance event from the public schedule, El-Sayed’s campaign said the Democratic nominee “will be attending a 9/11 remembrance memorial event that day,” though that event was not posted anywhere on his campaign website.
The campaign also noted that of the four events flagged — Fiesta Mexicana, the farmers market, the county fair, and the tour stop — El-Sayed would not personally attend two of them, though it declined to say which two.
The campaign did not explain why the remembrance event was left off El-Sayed’s list of upcoming public appearances, but a spokeswoman offered a statement on his view of the anniversary.
“The September 11th terrorist attacks were an evil attack on America’s freedom and he will be joining Michiganders in remembering the 25th anniversary,” El-Sayed’s spokeswoman said.
A history of friction over 9/11
The scheduling question comes amid a pattern of controversy tying El-Sayed to comments about the 2001 attacks. Twitch streamer Hasan Piker, who has campaigned alongside El-Sayed, drew criticism after a resurfaced clip showed him saying America “deserved 9/11.” El-Sayed called the remark “dumb” but did not disavow Piker or end their association.
Separately, old blog posts and social media statements from El-Sayed have circulated in which he compared 9/11 to the January 6 Capitol riot and likened President Donald Trump to Osama bin Laden, according to a now-private blog. In other social media posts, El-Sayed called on Americans to direct the same outrage toward the COVID-19 pandemic that they felt after 9/11, and he mourned the deaths of those killed during America’s War on Terror.
