Reflections on the 25th Anniversary of 9/11

It is September 11, 2026, the 25th anniversary of the attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. There would have been an attack on the White House as well had passengers not taken action to stop the terrorists who took over the plane that crashed in Shanksville, PA.  The loss of life was horrendous.  At NYCLA our headquarters were then at 14 Vesey Street, right around the corner from the World Trade Center.  We were unable to access our building for months. 

Nevertheless, we took immediate action.  Under the leadership of our then-president Craig Landy, assisted by our president-elect Michael Miller, we quickly organized a pro bono effort for lawyers to assist with trust and estate matters for the bereaved families of the deceased.  We also assisted displaced workers in obtaining unemployment and other benefits, and small businesses who were unable to function but still had bills to pay. Our inability to access our building didn’t stop us from performing essential pro bono work.  

Today that commitment to public service continues.  After 25 years we may not need to provide pro bono work for the families of those who died that day, but we are proud of our continuing pro bono legal services, and of the willingness of our members to respond to the call. We also firmly reject violence in all its forms as a method of resolving disputes.  Respectful, reasoned dialogue, in our courts, legislatures and governmental bodies, is essential to our rule of law and the successful continuation of our system. The terrorists who brought unthinkable tragedy to our city on 9/11 reject those concepts.  As lawyers, we cannot.

To those still grieving the loss of loved ones on 9/11, we say we are deeply sorry you are bereaved.  To all our fellow colleagues at the bar, and all of our fellow citizens generally, we say we are proud to defend the rule of law and all the good that it represents.

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This statement has been issued by the NYCLA President. It has not been reviewed by NYCLA‘s full Board of Directors and does not necessarily represent its views.