Overview
- On Jan. 2, 2026, Gov. Kathy Hochul issued New York’s first proclamation designating January as Muslim American Heritage Month.
- Sixteen state landmarks were lit green that night, including One World Trade Center, the Governor Mario M. Cuomo Bridge, the Grand Central Terminal Pershing Square Viaduct, the Albany International Airport Gateway, and the Roosevelt Island Lighthouse.
- The governor shared photos of the Freedom Tower spire glowing green, describing the display as a celebration of the heritage and culture of Muslim Americans.
- New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani and Muslim elected officials endorsed the designation as overdue recognition of community contributions.
- Critics on social media condemned lighting the World Trade Center green as insensitive due to 9/11 associations, and no official reversal or policy change has been reported.