March, 09 2010, 10:34am EDT
For Immediate Release
Contact:
Riptide Communications (212) 260-5000 or
Donna O’Connor (315) 559-2138
Family Members of 9/11 Victims Seek Meeting with Attorney General Holder to Support Civilian Trials for GTMO Detainees
Today,
September 11th Families for Peaceful Tomorrows, a national organization of more
than 200 relatives of victims of the 9/11 attacks, delivered a letter to
Attorney General Eric Holder asking to meet with him to discuss their support
for civilian trials for Guantanamo detainees including alleged 9/11 master mind
Khalid Sheik Mohammed. The families' group acted in the wake of reports
that the Obama administration is considering trying Mohammed before a military
tribunal.
WASHINGTON
Today,
September 11th Families for Peaceful Tomorrows, a national organization of more
than 200 relatives of victims of the 9/11 attacks, delivered a letter to
Attorney General Eric Holder asking to meet with him to discuss their support
for civilian trials for Guantanamo detainees including alleged 9/11 master mind
Khalid Sheik Mohammed. The families' group acted in the wake of reports
that the Obama administration is considering trying Mohammed before a military
tribunal.
In the letter, the group voiced its
concern that the Administration was considering "...compromising with Senator Lindsay Graham regarding
the civilian trial of Khalid Sheik Mohammed. If there is validity to this
report, we need you to know that we consider this to be a very troublesome
bargain."
The letter goes on to say: "We believe the closure of
Guantanamo Bay must not be solely symbolic in nature. We must close it and hold
all trials in open, civilian courts where justice is transparent. We continue
to support your initial conviction that holding these trials on American soil
is the right thing to do."
The group is preparing to launch a
public education campaign to bolster support for civilian trials for terrorism
suspects which they believe is a critical step to reversing Bush administration
policies that undermine due process and the rule of law.
"I lost my pregnant daughter on
9/11 and I know I will never get her back," said Donna
O'Connor, a spokesperson for 9/11 Families for Peaceful Tomorrows.
"We will not stand by idly and lose our country as well. The American
system of justice has successfully prosecuted over 300 terrorism cases without
compromising our principles. 9/11 families ask nothing less than that in
the name of our loved ones."
A copy of the letter is attached and
available at www.peacefultomorrows.org.
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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