On Thursday morning, near the site of the 24th anniversary commemoration of the “911” terrorist attacks in New York, a group of Chinese anti-communist organizations held prominent banners and chanted slogans loudly, attracting many passersby to stop and take notice. Israeli photographer Roey Pnini, holding a professional camera, captured the moment of their gathering. He told reporters, “Such Chinese groups play a very important role in the United States, especially at this moment.” He expressed that he was deeply moved.
Roey Pnini almost always participates in the “911” commemoration activities every year. He said that the tragedy was “one of the most terrible events that humanity has experienced” and should receive broader attention and commemoration.
As he spoke, he pulled out a photo he had taken on the day of the “911” incident. He recalled, “The sky that day was particularly beautiful, deep blue and clear. I woke up around eight or nine o’clock, when a friend called me in a panic to wake me up. As I stepped out of the house, the thought that flashed in my mind was, ‘What a beautiful day today.'”
However, the streets of Brooklyn were unusually crowded with traffic, and soon news came that, after being awakened by a friend’s call in a hurry, Roey rushed to the scene and witnessed the chaos on the streets of Manhattan.
“As I climbed a building to take photos, a man said to me: under normal circumstances, he would have called the police long ago, but today is an exception. Finish taking the photos, and it will keep you safe to go down, don’t climb down from the fire ladder anymore,” Roey said slowly. “At that time, the streets were chaotic, with people rushing to get money and buy drinking water. As an Israeli, I am no stranger to terrorist attacks, but in Manhattan, on a typical morning around 8 o’clock, two buildings collapsed suddenly, the scene felt like doomsday. Unlike the Middle East, people here were completely unable to comprehend what was happening. At that moment, I thought in my mind: it will take many, many years for this event to be truly understood. For me, each year feels heavier than the previous one.”
Another 66-year-old man, Edward X. Young, also shared his memories with reporters at the scene. When he was 42 in 2001, he witnessed the collapse of the World Trade Center towers. He specifically mentioned fallen firefighter and musician Johnny Heffernan, saying that this time he came to pay his respects, especially to commemorate this old friend.
“This nightmare has never truly ended, and many people still suffer from its aftermath,” he said, emphasizing that he took a leave of absence to attend to pay tribute to the victims.
He also expressed concerns about the current American political and international situation, specifically citing the infiltration and threats posed by the Chinese Communist Party worldwide. He praised the efforts of The Epoch Times in exposing the truth, emphasizing that only honesty and courage can protect the safety of New York City and the entire United States.
Young concluded, “24 years have passed, but the shadow of 9/11 still looms heavy. New York needs sincere and courageous leaders to safeguard the city’s security and prevent a tragedy from happening again.”