The Takeaway

Osama Bin Laden Dead, 9/11 Family Members and Others Celebrate in Times Square

Monday, May 02, 2011 - 12:00 AM

By Ben Brock Johnson

Celebrators cheer and wave American flags in Times Square at the news of Osama Bin Laden's death. (Ben Brock Johnson/WNYC)
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While a large gathering at the World Trade Center site in Lower Manhattan featured cheers, tears, and even the popping of champagne, a somewhat smaller but still-jubilant gathering was happening in Times Square early in the morning.

A few hundred people, waving flags, chanting "USA" and even singing the song "Don't Stop Believing" by American power ballad band Journey packed into the middle of the street at 42nd, as onlookers and journalists on the periphery watched.

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Ben Brock Johnson/WNYC

Driver Amber Campbell, with mom in the back seat and a passenger friend, came to Times Square from Staten Island to celebrate. Her father is a firefighter. "We lost a lot of people on 9/11," she told The Takeaway. 

Ben Brock Johnson/WNYC
Ben Brock Johnson/WNYC

George McAvoy, here with friend Jo Ann, told The Takeaway he lost his brother, a firefighter, in the 9/11 attacks. He was headed from Times Square to WTC to celebrate with other family, but said he had mixed feelings about the death of Osama Bin Laden. "I'm not a person who likes revenge," he said. 

Ben Brock Johnson/WNYC
Celebrators in Times Square chanted "USA" and sang songs into the early morning.
Ben Brock Johnson/WNYC
One young man waving a large flag and sporting an American flag handkerchief lead many of the cheers.
Ben Brock Johnson/WNYC
More celebrators.
Ben Brock Johnson/WNYC

Ahmed Abdul Hussein, an young man from Manhattan with Iraqi and Peruvian roots, said that the death of Osama Bin Laden was good news for Humanity, America, and "true Islam." 

Ben Brock Johnson/WNYC

Kevin, left, came with two friends from Queens with an American flag tied to the trunk of their car. "It took us 10 years but we got him - not even 10 years. This is going to be a momentous occassion this 9-11. I mean look at the date. May one, one one. Symbolic or what?"

Ben Brock Johnson/WNYC
As an apparently proud mother looked on, two girls held up signs celebrating the death of Osama Bin Laden.
Ben Brock Johnson/WNYC
Later in the celebration a solemn moment arrived as many lit candles.

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