The office of New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg said Monday that 9/11 responders have not been invited to the upcoming 10th anniversary commemoration of the terrorist attacks — a move those workers have called a “betrayal.”

Many of the 3,000 firefighters, police officers, and other city employees who’ve been excluded feel the decision was made to try to hide the medical ailments many of them are now suffering. “It’ll bring up the fact that we’re basically walking dead and that we’re not being treated,” remarked first responder Bonnie Giebfried.

A spokesman for the mayor’s office, Andrew Brent, said the commemoration ceremony, which will be attended by politicians such as President Obama and former President George W. Bush, is for victims’ families. “While we are again focused on accommodating victims’ family members, given the space constraints, we’re working to find ways to recognize and honor first responders, and other groups, at different places and times,” he said.

[Daily Beast]

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