Joanne Barbara spoke at the ceremony to honor her late husband, Gerard A. Barbara.
“The elected officials here today show their respect and reverence to the families on Sept. 11, or — in our president’s words — ’do 9/11,’ quite a flippant remark,” Barbara said, referring to Biden’s comment to a reporter earlier this week regarding his upcoming schedule.
“Please remember that the 9/11 families live it every day,” Barbara said of the grief experienced by the loved ones of the 2,977 people who were killed in the terror attacks on Sept. 11, 2001.
Barbara also criticized the “outrageous” plea deal that was nearly allowed for the alleged mastermind of the 9/11 attacks and two terrorist accomplices.
The controversial deal reached this summer sparked a massive outcry, and Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin revoked the agreement on Aug. 2.
“If not for the 9/11 families, who knows what would have transpired?” Barbara said.
“It has been 23 years and the families deserve justice and accountability,” she added, to the sound of applause and cheers from the crowd.
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