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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 kylehence@earthlink.net
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 have been granted permission in advance by Sergeant
OíLeary of the Special Investigations Section of the Nassau County Police Department.
Two days prior Sergeant Oíleary had called CitizensWatch co-founder, Kyle F. Hence, to confirm the approved site for the
rally and vigil. According to Sergeant Oíleary 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 we 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.
Bushís 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.
CitizensWatch is pleased to report that a worldwide lobbying campaign launched last week has delivered thousands of
messages to Congress and the 9/11 Commission that the White House must fully cooperate and agree to having President
Bush, Vice-President Cheney and Condoleezza Rice testify in public and under oath with regard to their record on 9/11.
ENDS