Those who lost family in 9/11 to visit Iraq
Peaceful Tomorrows was formed by those who lost loved ones in 9/11. “Its mission is to seek effective nonviolent solutions to terrorism, and to acknowledge the shared experience of September 11 families with all people similarly affected by violence throughout the world.”
From the press release
“Bolstered by Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s assertion that “wars are poor chisels for carving out peaceful tomorrows,” family members of September 11 victims will travel to Iraq from January 5-14, 2003, to make public their conviction that war will not bring peaceful tomorrows to that nation, to the Middle East region, or to the United States. The four-member delegation represents September 11 Families for Peaceful Tomorrows, an advocacy group seeking effective, non-violent alternatives to war and terrorism.
Recognizing that innocent civilians are often the ones most deeply affected by military action, the family members will bear witness to the conditions of Iraqi civilians while also acknowledging the price American civilians will pay. Increasing anti-U.S. sentiment, the possibility of future terrorist attacks, injury and death to U.S. military personnel and the harsh economic consequences of spending billions on military intervention are all deemed likely consequences of this war.
“It has struck me how many people in this country were so very moved by the New York Times ‘Portraits of Grief,’†said Peaceful Tomorrows’ Colleen Kelly, who lost her brother, Bill Kelly, Jr., at the World Trade Center on September 11. “We all got to see the faces and learn about the lives of those lost on September 11th. I’m going to Iraq for this very same reason. I want to see the faces of the Iraqi people. I want to learn about their lives. I want to understand that Iraq is not just one man, Saddam Hussein, but many, many people, with hopes and dreams and families, just like my brother.â€Â