Victims of Terrorism Associations After September 11th and March 11th: Claims, Demands, and Responses

Abstract

Attention to victims and their advocates is an inherent part of the “thick” definition of the rule of law, and repeated mentions of victims and civil society organizations that advocate for their interests appear in the Secretary-General’s 2004 report on the rule of law and transitional justice in conflict and post-conflict societies, as well as subsequent international legal documents recognizing the rights of victims of terrorism. In this chapter, we review the missions and activities of the organizations that were created to advocate for the victims and families of the 9/11 attacks in New York and offer a brief comparison to those that functioned in Spain after the Atocha train bombings of 2004. By examining these associations’ careers, we see the prolonged needs of victims of terrorism as well as the way that those organizations created to advocate for them to learn transferable skills that are useful to other types of victims and tragic events.

Support for this project was provided by PSC-CUNY Award #64276-00 42, jointly funded by the Professional Staff Congress and the City University of New York. The research assistance of Diana Rodriguez-Spahia is gratefully acknowledged.

Appendix 5.1: Mission of Associations at Founding and at Present

Association	Founding year	Mission at founding	Mission at present or at last update
September 11th Widows and Victims’ Families –> September 11th Families Association	2001	“Created by the families and for the families: Our most important goal is to insure the dignified recovery of your loved ones. For those families who have not yet joined us: We are dedicated to providing accurate information directly from our members working at Ground Zero Family hardships are addressed. Liaisons with the Mayor’s Office, Fire Commissioner and Fire” “The September 11th Families Association supports victims of terrorism through communication, representation and peer support. Our mission is to unite the September 11th community, present evolving issues, and share resources for long-term recovery”	The September 11th Families’ Association supports victims of terrorism through communication, representation and peer support. Our mission is to unite the September 11th community, present evolving issues, and share resources for long-term recovery
September’s Mission	2001	The goal of September’s Mission is threefold:  First – The first part of the mission is to keep the memories of the people who died on September 11 alive by creating a forum where families of the victims can connect. The forum will be both online and in person. We invite family members, especially children, to email us their stories, poems and pictures for posting on the September’s Mission Web site. We will also organize events where family members can come together and share their stories with one another.  Second – The second part of the mission is to support the development of a memorial park on the site of the former World Trade Center and at the Pentagon. We envision these areas to be peaceful places to reflect, remember and honor those whose lives were lost at the World Trade Center, the Pentagon and on the American Airlines and United flights. We are also commissioning an author to write a memorial book to honor the lives of the victims. Please contact September’s Mission if you are an author and are interested in helping us with this project.  Third – The third part of the mission is help children who lost their loved ones on September 11. We support the development of an area of the memorial that would be especially geared to this often-ignored group. We believe it is important for these children to have a place to understand and accept what happened to their mothers and fathers	September’s Mission is to support the development of a memorial park on the former World Trade Center site that ties into the overall redevelopment of Lower Manhattan, and to ensure its future sustainability through public/private partnerships. September’s Mission is committed to working with the families, Manhattan residents, businesses and public officials to ensure that the future of the World Trade Center site not only honors the lives that were lost on September 11, but serves all New Yorkers for generations to come. Once the scope of the World Trade Center memorial is more clearly defined, September’s Mission aims to work with public entities as the private arm to fund memorial development efforts as well as on-going operations and educational endeavors. September’s Mission is also dedicated to helping families who lost loved ones on 9/11. By hosting and supporting events throughout the year for families and children, we strengthen personal connections and create a positive, nurturing forum that contributes to healing
Skyscraper Safety Campaign	2001	The goals of the Skyscraper Safety Campaign are:  1. To have a Federal Comprehensive Investigation, with subpoena power, into the collapse of the WTC, including design, construction, evacuation procedures and firefighting techniques.  2. To encourage better compliance with building and fire codes in NYC and nationwide, thereby safeguarding Firefighters, as well as persons who must live and work in skyscrapers.  3. To educate “codes groups” to allow the Fire Service to have more input into writing Building Codes. We call for at least 50% of all codes groups to be composed of representatives of the Fire Service and the academic field of Fire Science Engineering. (Existing groups are composed of builders, developers, financiers and bureaucrats who know little about Fire and Life Safety.)  4. To ensure that all future WTC development by the Port Authority of New York & New Jersey be characterized by quality, safety, security and New York City codes compliance	The goals of the Skyscraper Safety Campaign are:  To have a Federal Comprehensive Investigation, with subpoena power, into the collapse of the WTC, including design, construction, evacuation procedures and firefighting techniques.  To encourage better compliance with building and fire codes in NYC and nationwide, thereby safeguarding Firefighters, as well as persons who must live and work in skyscrapers.  To educate “codes groups” to allow the Fire Service to have more input into writing Building Codes. We call for at least 50% of all codes groups to be composed of representatives of the Fire Service and the academic field of Fire Science Engineering. (Existing groups are composed of builders, developers, financiers and bureaucrats who know little about Fire and Life Safety.)  To ensure that all future WTC development by the Port Authority of New York & New Jersey be characterized by quality, safety, security and New York City codes compliance. We are gratified to report that our first goal has been accomplished. The Investigation of the Collapse of the WTC has commenced. The first meeting of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Investigation of the Collapse of the WTC was held in NYC on June 24, 2002. For ongoing information about the WTC Investigation, visit wtc.nist.gov. Much work remains to be done. It is imperative that all members of the public support the principles of the Skyscraper Safety Campaign. Our second goal is being realized as we applaud the work of NYC Mayor Mike Bloomberg and the NYC Buildings Department Commissioner Patricia Lancaster, in focusing on ensuring the safety and security of buildings in NYC. We continue to work on accomplishing all the goals of The Skyscraper Safety Campaign
Families of September 11th	2001	http://familiesofseptember11.org To promote the interests of families of victims of the September 11th attacks and support policies that improve the prevention of and response to terrorism	“To raise awareness about the effects of terrorism and public trauma and to champion domestic and international policies that prevent, protect against and response to terrorist acts.” (suspended activity in 2012, creating the For Action Initiative, http://www.foractioninitiative.org) To raise awareness about the effects of public trauma and terrorism on people, societies, and the world, and to educate teachers and our youth about the history of terrorism, international relations, global security, and domestic and international policies. To inspire young people to take action—as individuals and as part of their community—and support efforts that someday might prevent future acts of global terrorism
Peaceful Tomorrows	2002	Our Mission: Peaceful Tomorrows is an advocacy organization founded by family members of September Eleventh victims. Its mission is to seek effective nonviolent responses to terrorism, and identify a commonality with all people similarly affected by violence throughout the world. By conscientiously exploring peaceful options in our search for justice, we choose to spare additional innocent families the suffering that we have already experienced—as well as to break the endless cycle of violence and retaliation engendered by war. Our goals:  To make possible a safe, open dialogue on alternatives to war.  To provide support and fellowship to others seeking peaceful and just responses to terrorism.  To educate and raise the consciousness of the public on issues surrounding war and peace.  To guard against erosion of civil liberties and other freedoms at home as a consequence of war.  To promote U.S. foreign policy which places a priority on principles of democracy and human rights.  To encourage a multilateral use of sensible and appropriate To encourage a multilateral use of sensible and appropriate means to bring those responsible for the September eleventh attacks to justice in an international criminal court.  To recognize our fellowship with other innocent people touched by violence and war, regardless of nationality.  To join with like-minded groups in furthering the causes of peace and justice	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. Our goals:  1. To promote dialogue on alternatives to war, while educating and raising the consciousness of the public on issues of war, peace, and the underlying causes of terrorism.  2. To support and offer fellowship to others seeking nonviolent responses to all forms of terrorism, both individual and institutional.  3. To call attention to threats to civil liberties, human rights, and other freedoms in the U.S. as a consequence of war.  4. To acknowledge our fellowship with all people affected by violence and war, recognizing that the resulting deaths are overwhelmingly civilian.  5. To encourage a multilateral, collaborative effort to bring those responsible for the September 11, 2001 attacks to justice in accordance with the principles of international law.  6. To promote U.S. foreign policy that places a priority on internationally-recognized principles of human rights, democracy and self-rule.  7. To demand ongoing investigations into the events leading up to the September 11, 2001 attacks that took the lives of our loved ones, including exhaustive examinations of U.S. foreign policies and national security failures
FSC to the 9/11 Commission Report	2001	After demanding that the Independent Commission be established, the Family Steering Committee’s goal is to monitor the progress of the Commission to ensure that it assiduously follows its mandate for a broad, in depth investigation. Another important objective of the FSC is to keep the 9/11 families and the public informed about the Commission’s work	(suspended activity in 2005)
Voices of September 11th	2001	Voices of September 11th is an advocacy group providing resources and support to victims’ families, survivors and all those impacted by the terrorist attack on September 11th. Services include support groups, outreach, bereavement groups, lectures, workshops and special events	VOICES helps families heal after tragedy, a vital mission that began after 9/11. Today, the organization continues to address the long-term needs of those impacted by 9/11, while helping communities prepare for, respond to, and recover from other acts of mass violence and disasters
Tuesday’s Children	2001	Tuesday’s Children, a ‘by the families – for the families’ nonprofit organization founded by the brothers, colleagues and friends of World Trade Center victims, has made an eighteen year commitment to each of the thousands of children who lost a parent on Tuesday, September 11th, 2001. Our children and their families, having lost a guiding light in their lives, must not be left to walk their path alone. Tuesday’s Children’s programs – based on family and community interaction – create the ongoing structure and support necessary to insure a happy and healthy future	Tuesday’s Children was founded to promote long-term healing in all those directly impacted by the events of September 11, 2001. Our mission today is to keep the promise to those children and families while serving and supporting communities affected by acts of terror worldwide
9/11 Families for a Secure America	2001	“What we will do: We will expose those officials who were responsible for the policies that allowed 9/11 to occur. We will work toward their removal from office and prevent their re-election. We will recommend immigration reform and will assist in election efforts of those public officials who support stringent immigration policies and the strict enforcement of these laws”	We are the families and victims of the September 11th, 2001 terror attacks and other violent crimes committed by illegal aliens. We are a group of naturalized and native born citizens of America, working together to prevent future terrorist attacks and to secure the Nation for the next generations
WTC Survivors	2003	The World Trade Center Survivors’ Network is a community of interest brought together by common experience. The need for the Survivors’ Network grows out of the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 on the World Trade Center in New York City and the high probability that large numbers of survivors of the attacks – those placed at immediate risk of injury or death during the attacks – have had their lives significantly disrupted and altered by their experiences. As a result, survivors continue to face stress, disorientation, and significant levels of grief, guilt and helplessness as they reconstruct their lives in the aftermath of the attacks. The Survivors’ Network seeks to provide a forum for personal contact between survivors as a means to empower them to both deal with the circumstances of the aftermath of the attacks and to find renewed purpose in that aftermath. The Network can also function as a place for people to go and get survivors’ perspectives and as a conduit for the common thoughts of survivors	In the aftermath of the attacks on the World Trade Center, many survivors felt isolated and alone. Displaced from workplaces, homes and schools, mourning the loss of friends, co-workers and loved ones, they needed to put their lives back together and move forward. In this atmosphere, a small group of World Trade Center survivors found each other online. They soon realized that, while their individual experiences were vastly different, by sharing knowledge and resources they were able to help themselves and each other. That small, initial group led to the formation of the World Trade Center Survivors’ Network (WTCSN), a non-profit, non-political group currently located in lower Manhattan. Staffed entirely by volunteers, most of whom are themselves survivors, the World Trade Center Survivors’ Network employs a wide range of initiatives and activities to serve survivors, including:  Representing survivors’ interests regarding redevelopment of the World Trade Center site including the memorial and museum  Participating in conferences on terrorism and its aftermath  Speaking about survivor’s experiences at schools, houses of worship and community meetings forging alliances with survivors of other terrorist attacks both within and outside the US providing survivors with a forum where they can connect with each other
FealGood Foundation	2005	The primary mission of the FealGood Foundation, a non-profit organization, is to spread awareness and educate the public about the catastrophic health effects on 9/11 first responders, as well as to provide assistance to relieve these great heroes of the financial burdens placed on them over the last five years. A secondary goal of our Foundation is to create a network of advocacy on 9/11 healthcare issues. We not only advocate for Ground Zero workers, but show others how they can advocate for themselves and help others through grassroots activism	The primary mission of the FealGood Foundation (“FGF”) is to assist First Responders, and/or any individual, who may have been injured, physically or mentally, as a direct result of their rescue, recovery and clean up efforts at the World Trade Center Site following the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. The secondary mission of the FGF is to assist all emergency personnel, including but not limited to, construction workers, police officers, firefighters, nurses, volunteers, sanitation workers and transportation workers, within the United States who have been injured, or face serious injury due to proposed action or omission, in the course of their duties or within their everyday lives. An ancillary mission of the FGF is to educate elected officials and private entities on the various problems, concerns and issues faced by First Responders in their everyday duties. The FGF is therefore dedicated to advocating for First Responder rights and illuminating, to proper authorities, the serious issues they encounter. In order to assist these individuals the FGF may, but is not limited to, provide financial assistance; place the individual in contact with medical professionals where possible and appropriate; place the individual in contact with legal professionals where possible and appropriate; advocate on behalf of the individual before appropriate authorities, both private and public and provide any other assistance that the FGF Executive Board deems necessary and proper in a particular circumstance. The FGF reserves the right to determine on a case by case basis what assistance to provide in each particular case
WTC United Family Group -> September 11th Education Trust	2001	(2008) The September 11th Education Trust World Class 9/11 and Civic Literacy Education Programming: Evolving from its genesis as the WTC United Family Group—one of the original and largest of the 9/11 community organizations—the September 11th Education Trust produces comprehensive, flexible, and engaging 9/11 and civic literacy education programs that protect the legacy and memory of the victims of the terrorist attacks, preserve and harness the lessons of 9/11 and its aftermath, unify and direct our nation’s youth toward informed and effective civic participation. Our lesson plans are personalized and enriched through first-hand accounts, filmed oral histories, and authentic, primary archival materials to permanently record this shared historic event in a way that is not stagnant, but inspiring and relevant to the nation’s youth. World Trade Center United Family Group 9/11 Victims’ Support Services…An Empowered 9/11 community of Trust and Shared Experience In an effort to meet the ongoing and evolving needs of those directly impacted by the 9/11 terrorist attacks, the September 11th Education Trust—through its WTC United Family Group program offerings—provides comprehensive year-round services for our 9/11community members—victims’ families, survivors and rescue workers across the nation—through innovative peer support programs including our September 11th/Oklahoma City Family Exchange, annual holiday gathering, advocacy on 9/11 issues, coordinated philanthropic projects to empower our community, publications and outreach, and other means of healing	Present: Same