February, 06 2009, 07:00am EDT
For Immediate Release
Contact:
Valerie Lucznikowska cell: 917-757-7031
Adele Welty ph: 718-461-8837
Peaceful Tomorrows will Join other 9/11 Relatives In Meeting with President Obama to Discuss Closing Guantanamo
Valerie
Lucznikowska, a member of September 11th Families for Peaceful
Tomorrows, will be among the relatives of 9/11 victims meeting with
President Obama at 3:30pm today in the Roosevelt Room in the West Wing
of The White House. Ms. Lucznikowska will be delivering a letter
signed by over 100 people who lost relatives on 9/11 who support the
President's actions to shut down Guantanamo.
WASHINGTON
Valerie
Lucznikowska, a member of September 11th Families for Peaceful
Tomorrows, will be among the relatives of 9/11 victims meeting with
President Obama at 3:30pm today in the Roosevelt Room in the West Wing
of The White House. Ms. Lucznikowska will be delivering a letter
signed by over 100 people who lost relatives on 9/11 who support the
President's actions to shut down Guantanamo.
In the letter, 157 signers call for a full return to the American
justice system for prosecutions of terrorism suspects so that due
process can be restored. They write: "As 9/11 family members we care
deeply that justice be served in these prosecutions, which are often
perceived by others as vindication for our loved ones."
The full text of the letter is as follows:
Dear Mr. President,
As people who lost loved ones on September 11, 2001, we support your
decision to close the prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and to end the
Military Commissions that are being conducted there. It is our belief
that these proceedings violate not only our own Constitution, but the
Geneva Conventions and International Humanitarian Law, putting into
question the validity of any verdict. It is especially egregious to us
that the detentions, torture and trials have been conducted in the
names of those family members we lost on 9/11.
We are deeply troubled that the Guantanamo proceedings have not only
denied the detainees their rights as human beings, they have tainted
the reputation of this country around the globe. We hope that the
evidence against these defendants will be presented in Federal Court in
compliance with due process of law under the Constitution. After
consulting with Constitutional lawyers, we are confident that it can be
done. As 9/11 family members we care deeply that justice be served in
these prosecutions, which are often perceived by others as vindication
for our loved ones.
We look forward to continuing our conversation with you on this issue.
Peaceful Tomorrows was founded, in 2002, by family members of those
killed in the 9/11 terrorist attacks. who have united to turn their
grief into action for peace and justice. Their founding mission
statement called for "a multilateral, collaborative effort to bring
those responsible for the September 11, 2001 attacks to justice in
accordance with the principles of international law."
Peaceful Tomorrows is an organization founded by family members of those killed on September 11th who have united to turn our grief into action for peace. By developing and advocating nonviolent options and actions in the pursuit of justice, we hope to break the cycles of violence engendered by war and terrorism. Acknowledging our common experience with all people affected by violence throughout the world, we work to create a safer and more peaceful world for everyone.
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