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