Patricia Heaton, the actress best known for her role in Everybody Loves Raymond, has recently made headlines after publicly urging New Yorkers to keep up the pressure on an ongoing campaign targeting New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani. The sixty-eight-year-old took to X on July 27 referencing a petition that calls on Mamdani to skip this year's 9/11 twenty-fifth anniversary remembrance ceremony, citing his religious beliefs."Keep it going, New Yorkers," she wrote.More than thirty-eight thousand people had signed the petition at the time of publication. Heaton also reposted a message from a New Yorker noting the numbers were climbing fast, and even included a quote from a 9/11 family member who argued that Mamdani"is disqualified from attending the 9/11 remembrance ceremony and ought be barred."The effort hasn't been without backlash. Some have condemned the petition as Islamophobic, a situation which has left the conversation sharply divided. As per a report shared by Us Weekly, Mamdani, who is now thirty-four years old, was just nine years old at the time of the September 11, 2001 attacks. A commenter in Heaton's replies on X pointed that fact out plainly."He was a nine year old kid when this happened," the user wrote.Patricia Heaton backs petition questioning Mamdani's values as NYC mayor responds to exclusion effort:Patricia Heaton and Ray Romano attend the 30 Years Of "Everybody Loves Raymond": An Evening With The Legends Of The Classic Sitcom event at The Paley Museum on June 16, 2025 in New York City - Source: GettyEarlier this month, few 9/11 family members put together an online petition asking that Mamdani not attend the twenty-fifth anniversary remembrance ceremony. Giovanni Galante, a 9/11 widower, was among those who signed it. He wrote via the petition that"This anniversary is one of remembrance grounded in shared American values: respect for the victims, recognition of the gravity of the attacks and a clear rejection of the ideologies that contributed to such violence. For many families and community members, participation in these ceremonies carries an implicit expectation that those present uphold and affirm these principles without ambiguity."As per the petition, Galante wasn't the only one with concerns. The petition noted that"Concerns have been raised about Mr. Mamdani's public positions, associations and responses to rhetoric that many perceive as hostile to these shared values."Those who signed respectfully asked organizers to weigh whether Mamdani's participation would sit well with the families most directly affected by the tragedy. Patricia Heaton has been amplifying the petition on X.New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani delivers a speech to mark the 250th anniversary of the United States of America at City Hall on July 3, 2026 in New York City - Source: GettyMamdani addressed the effort directly in comments to CBS News, saying"I will proudly honor the families, the survivors, the first responders forever impacted by that horrific terror attack by standing alongside them at this year's 9/11 commemoration, reaffirming that we will never forget the solemn day felt by all of us who call this city home and, frankly, by all of us who called this country home."Patricia Heaton urged civility following shots fired near White House Correspondents' dinner ballroom as users pushed back:Patricia Heaton speaks onstage during The Lawfare Project Hamptons 2025 Benefit To #EndJewHatred at Southampton Arts Center on August 07, 2025 in Southampton, New York - Source: GettyThis wasn't the first time that Patricia Heaton made headlines recently. Back in April 2026, shots were fired near the ballroom at the Washington Hilton during the White House Correspondents' Association dinner. President Donald Trump, Vice President JD Vance and first lady Melania Trump were among those evacuated from the venue. Hundreds of attendees ducked under tables or took cover before being led out of the ballroom. The event was subsequently postponed.Patricia Heaton later took to X to share her thoughts. She wrote that although she disagreed with past Democratic presidents Barack Obama, Bill Clinton and Joe Biden, those who criticize political leaders should still reject extreme language and violence."I wasn't happy when Clinton, Obama or Biden won, but I didn't call them fascist/dangerous/threat to democracy. I didn't hope someone would assassinate them. I went on with my life with gratitude. Friends on the left, please try this. Your life and our country will be better," she said.Her comment section was divided."Because Clinton, Obama and Biden weren't fascist, dangerous or a threat to democracy. Trump clearly is," shared one user.Another user echoed similar sentiments."Probably because those presidents weren't fascists and Trump's authoritarian antics are actually dangerous to democracy. He gets accused of that because of what he says and does, not because people are just making it up," they shared.