9/11 Museum remembers Latinos who died in the attacks

Today marks the 24th anniversary of the terrorist attacks on the Twin Towers in New York City. Around three thousand names are inscribed in bronze at the 9/11 Memorial, some of them Latino. It is estimated that around 250 Latinos died that day.

So that the stories of our compatriots, our migrants, are not forgotten, the National September 11 Memorial & Museum in New York highlights the importance of remembering the Latino victims.

Daniela Rodríguez, a UC Berkeley scholar and reporter for Radio Bilingüe, tells us more about this effort.

Almost 25 years have passed since the September 11, 2001 attacks in New York. More than 2,900 people lost their lives that day. Today, the National September 11 Memorial & Museum, located in New York City, has a mission to ensure that those stories are not forgotten.

Natali Rodríguez, the museum’s director of talent acquisition, explains why it is so important to remember not only those lives, but also their stories.

“Our mission is to commemorate, educate, and inspire. We are passing on memory and history, and we have a responsibility to preserve the stories of September 11, 2001.”

One of the great challenges, says Natali Rodríguez, is conveying the magnitude of what happened to a generation that did not experience it directly.

“For us, it is very important to educate a new generation to continue remembering what happened that day.”

The museum has set out to reach millions of students with digital programs, school materials, and online educational experiences.

“Our goal is to educate 20 million students by the 25th anniversary, which is next year, in 2026.”

To achieve this, they have an education department that works directly with teenagers across the country.

“We have an education department that does a very good job, working with schools and giving teachers information on how to communicate with students, with teenagers.”

The director of Talent Acquisition for the National September 11 Memorial & Museum notes that young people who participate in these programs react with curiosity and, of course, ask many questions.

“We are seeing a lot of interest. It is important for young people to see how we recovered as a country, as a state, Lower Manhattan, all the change that came after, and the resilience.”

However, the Latino dimension also occupies a central place in this commemoration. It is estimated that more than 200 Latinos died in the September 11 attacks, although reports indicate that the exact number remains uncertain. Activists and relatives of the victims point out that some immigrants died that day but were never officially identified due to their immigration status.

The museum honors Latino lives, Natali Rodriguez tells us.

“Of the nearly 3,000 victims who died that day, approximately 200 were Hispanic, and those 200 obviously came from many countries, such as South America and Latin America, for example, Colombia, Ecuador, and the Dominican Republic.”

For the first time, the museum will offer guided tours in Spanish with the aim of bringing this history closer to the Spanish-speaking community in their own language.

“We are very happy and excited to be able to offer this for the first time. We will have these tours every Sunday and every Wednesday, and we are very excited to be able to offer the tour in Spanish to reach other communities.”

Natali Rodríguez, who is of Colombian origin, also shared how personal this date is for many Latinos in the United States.

“My parents are Latin American. They came from Colombia, and my dad was on Hudson Street that day, not far from that event. I always remember that. In New York, there are many Latinos living in this state. It will always be part of New York’s history as well. It has a lot to do with our culture. In the United States, there are many Latinos who come and are part of this country. It is important to recognize what has happened here as well and to be able to respect what has happened here too.”

Natali emphasizes that the legacy of September 11 does not only belong to the past, but is a commitment to the present and the future.

“It is very important to be passing from memory to history. We have a responsibility to preserve the stories of this day, to preserve the feelings, to be able to continue talking about what happened and to come and pay our respects.”

Almost 25 years after the tragedy, the museum’s mission is clear: to remember the victims, educate new generations, and keep the memory alive in the Latino community as well. For more information, visit the museum’s website, 911memorial.org.

Thanks to Daniela Rodríguez, UC Berkeley fellow and reporter for Radio Bilingüe, for this report.