9/11 families barred from protest at Bush visit site

[CaptainClark23]

9/11 Families and others calling on Bush to end stonewalling of the
9/11 Commission prevented from attending rally

For Immediate Release

March 12, 2004

Kyle F. Hence
[e-mail]

March 12 -- Yesterday in Westbury, Long Island, 9/11 victim families
members and others planning on attending the Rally organized by 9/11
CitizensWatch were blocked from access to the Rally site on the edge of Eisenhower Park by Nassau County Police Department on order from the Secret Service despite having been granted permission in advance by Sergeant O'Leary of the Special Investigations Section of the Nassau County Police Department.

Two days prior Sergeant O'leary had called CitizensWatch co-founder,
Kyle F. Hence, to confirm the approved site for the rally and vigil. According to Sergeant O'leary who spoke to CitizensWatch following the Bush fundraiser, two hours before the rally was to begin, the U.S. Secret Service ordered additional roads closed effectively locking out numerous family members and members of
the press to the rally point. All were turned away including family
members.

As a result, organizers received several calls from family members
upset about not being able to voice their outrage about Bush Administration stonewalling of the 9/11 Commission and use of 9/11 in Bush/Cheney Campaign ads.

International press who had planned on covering the rally included
Reuters, Fuji TV (Japan) and Nippon Television (Japan). Local print media included The Journal News and Newsday. Calls were also fielded by organizers from the major news networks. Two documentary film teams and several members of the press did finally meet up with CitizensWatch organizers and family members at separate rally at another site.

Organizers have acknowledged it is not unusual for last minute
security measures to interfere with those wishing to exercise their first amendment rights.

"We extend out apologies to all those who were blocked from giving
voice to their concerns about this very important national issue. We will learn from this experience in planning future events or rallies. We are determined to support all victim family members who wish to express their concerns about George W. Bush's determination to avoid accountability and answering in public the hard questions regarding the attacks of 9/11," said Kyle F. Hence.

Family members who would like to relate their experience and voice their opinion on this or related issues are encouraged to contact 9/11 CitizensWatch directly.

[bif]

1. But of course they were.

n/t

[grannylib]

2. And your point is???? Of course they were blocked, and no, it was not

a violation of their rights, I'm sure...didn't Chimpy have a "Free Speech Zone" created for them a tidy distance away, so he would not have to face reality??
Hell, I thought the whole country was a Free Speech Zone...guess not under this Fascist administration...

[CaptainClark23]

7. Reply to grannylib and bif

You might be under the impression that I find this item shocking, and is why I posted it.

No, I am not surprised in the least.

Simply relating first-hand testimony, so that we have something to cite. Information, my friends, not news.

See you in the Streets.

[grannylib]

11. Sorry, should have noted "heavy sarcasm" in my reply! Cheers!

[proud patriot]

3. the coward is such a disgrace to this Nation

[kayell]

4. I just can't believe the nerve of these 9/11 families

What is this? Do they think that 9/11 is THEIR issue? Everyone knows that the ONLY ones who have a right to 9/11 are the BFEE.

</freeper>

[never cry wolf]

5. This is BEYOND the pale...

Families of the 9-11 victims were barred from a groundbreaking ceremony for a memorial to THEIR lost loved ones so shrubbies photo op wouldn't be ruined. fer chrissakes, the asshole can't let dirt touch his shoes or grieving families ruin his fundraiser.

I have no words to explain my pure hatred right now!

:nuke:

[Ganja Ninja]

6. The Bush message is: "We don't care what you think!" ...

"Just give us your sons and daughters for our war machine. We won't televise their coffins when they come back. We won't honor the service of those who survive by giving them the benefits they are entitled to. Just do as we say and don't get in our way."

[Cleita]

8. Does anyone think there may be

a riot at the RNC convention? With stupid moves like this by BushCo, it sure looks like one might start brewing.

[Timefortruth]

9. God I hope not.

Sometimes I thing that there are agitators who are working to do everything possible to make certain a riot happens. A riot would play right into Chimp's hands, the only group who would benefit from it would be Republicans. It would make sense that they have moles around to encourage that goal.

[grannylib]

12. Exactly...hope people are very very careful about this...there can be NO

behavior by protesters outside the convention that would take away focus from the criminals, their cronies and their destructive, deceptive, evil activities within.

[DrWeird]

13. I think it's more likely then not.

Question: did the riot in 1968 hurt the democrats?

[SoCalDem]

10. So.. if your loved one is killed, you lose YOUR rights too???

How "Rove-ian".. Can't have anyone who's not waving that flag and sending "air-kisses" to the little emperor..

This is something that the media should remedy.. Give them press passes and invite them along..

Protest is USELESS, unless the protestee sees it.. That is their plan.. We cannot let them get away with it.

[DrWeird]

14. He hates us for our freedoms.

Bush is the original terrorist.

[emalejim9]

15. What's new......target all television locations

A new plan of attack has to be implemented with all protests to get the needed coverage. As stated by several here, all protests should set up camp at local news media locations. This will definitely get coverage and could be used as a bargaining ploy to get the media to report the story.