9/11 Nonprofit Urges Presidential Candidates to Halt Campaigns on 23rd Anniversary

9/11 Day, the nonprofit organization responsible for creating and organizing the federally recognized September 11 National Day of Service and Remembrance, has called on presidential candidates to suspend their campaign activities on the 23rd anniversary of the 9/11 attacks. The request was sent to the campaigns of former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris, asking them to halt all political advertising and campaign-related media activities on September 11, 2024.

“9/11 Day,” as the observance is commonly known, has become the nation’s largest annual day of charitable engagement, attracting over 30 million participants each year. The nonprofit established the “9/11 Campaign Moratorium” in 2004 to honor the victims and heroes of the 9/11 attacks, and the tradition has since garnered support from all major political parties and many candidates.

David Paine, president and co-founder of 9/11 Day, emphasized the importance of national unity, stating, “We weren’t Red States or Blue States. We were the United States, and we were all Americans.” He urged candidates to observe the campaign moratorium and engage in nonpartisan acts of service, unity, and prayer on this solemn day.

Jay S. Winuk, co-founder and executive vice president of 9/11 Day, whose brother Glenn J. Winuk died in the line of duty during the attacks, echoed this sentiment. He called on political leaders to honor the memory of those lost and injured by focusing on common humanity rather than political differences.

In 2009, Congress and President Barack Obama formally recognized September 11 as a National Day of Service and Remembrance under federal law, further entrenching its significance in American society. The nonprofit encourages activities such as volunteering, prayer, and supporting charities to promote national unity and allow Americans to remember and pay tribute on 9/11 without political distractions.

As the nation approaches the 23rd anniversary of this tragic event, the call for a campaign moratorium serves as a reminder of the unity and compassion that defined the immediate aftermath of September 11, 2001. By setting aside political agendas for one day, leaders have the opportunity to bring the country together in a collective act of remembrance and service.