President Obama Visits Ground Zero, Bed-Stuy Residents Show Support

President Barack Obama joined thousands of New York City residents at Ground Zero this afternoon to pay homage to the fallen victims of 9/11 and also bring closure to a tragic chapter in the country's history.

Four days after the announced capture and killing of Al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden, the public has partaken in one of the greatest shows of solidarity since the president’s election, and Bed-Stuy residents at Ground Zero and in Brooklyn also showed unwavering support.

“I think it’s important that he made this visit, to show the support for the people,“ said Doreen Blackwood, 65, a Bed-Stuy resident who was at Ground Zero to greet the president and also show her support. “Everything was great, the people were warm, welcoming, happy and saddened at the same time."

“One of my friends was killed during 9/11,” said Bed-Stuy resident Khadijah Carter, 36. Her friend, , who also was a Bed-Stuy resident, worked at Windows on the World. “I wanted to be here to memorialize her. To a degree, it brings some comfort and some closure. But then again, is there ever really closure with something like this?”

New York City residents lined the streets, packed up against barricades at the intersection of Barclay and Church streets north of the World Trade Center site. Gov. Andrew Cuomo and Mayor Michael Bloomberg were at the location, as well.

Before laying a wreath at the World Trade Center site, Obama joined firefighters and former Mayor Rudy Giuliani at Engine 54 firehouse in Midtown, which lost 15 members in the attacks. 

“I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart on behalf of the American people for the sacrifices that you make every single day, and I just want to let you know that you’re always going to have a president and an administration that’s always going to have your back the way you’ve gotten the backs of the people of New York over these last many years,” Obama said.

“Obviously, we can’t bring back our friends that were lost. I know each and every one of you have grieved for them, but also tried to deal with their families and children, trying to give them comfort and support.”

In Bed-Stuy, residents showed overwhelming support for President Obama’s visit and the past week’s events, hoping it signaled the beginning of the end of the war in the Middle East.

“We’ve been in Iraq and Afghanistan for a really long time, and we really haven’t achieved anything, and I feel like killing and capturing Osama bin Laden is finally a step towards actually having a point for being there,” said Bed-Stuy resident Nina Simoneaux, 19. “So I think that’s a good thing. I think it might signify maybe an actual end to the war some day.”

“It’s a good thing that he’s here today,” said Taisha, who declined to give her last name. “He’s dead, now let’s move on. I don’t think his picture needs to be shown and broadcast all over the world. To broadcast him all on t.v. is only going to get the Muslims mad.”

Jamel Hayes, 38, called President Obama’s visit today a “blessing.” He agreed with Taisha that the president is doing a great job and that he doesn’t need to show a photo.

“[The president] did what he needed to do; he did what somebody else couldn’t do. Justice has been served,” said Hayes. “As far as the pictures, he can do what he wants to do with the pictures. If he says bin Laden is dead, he’s dead. Now it’s time to start a new chapter in our life.”

“Moments like this are when people come together,” said Carter. “We can only hope that this will help to unify our country more.”

Matthew Hampton, Nathan Duke and Paul Leonard conrtibuted reporting to this article.