Saturday, February 6, 2010

Daily News Coverage of the Press conference across the street from the Court House FEb. 6 2010


Residents protest holding 9/11 terror trial of Khalid Shaikh Mohammed in New York

Saturday, February 6th 2010, 4:00 AM
Protesters rail agains rholding 9/11 terror trial of alleged mastermind Khalid Shaikh Mohammed in New York.
Warga/News
Protesters rail agains rholding 9/11 terror trial of alleged mastermind Khalid Shaikh Mohammed in New York.
Lower Manhattan residents will feel they're "living in a war zone" - again - if the 9/11 terror trials are held there, protesters said Friday.
As debate continues over where to try alleged terror mastermind Khalid Shaikh Mohammed, neighbors of the federal courthouse urged the Obama administration to take the trial - and the potential risk and heavy security it would entail - somewhere else.
The Justice Department is looking at other options because New York officials complained strenuously about the disruption and security costs.
Some residents said having the trial here would punish those who chose not to flee New York after the 2001 attacks.
Jeanie Chin of the Civic Center Residents Coalition said the area is already coping with added security and surveillance since the attacks.
"[We] suffered the street shutdowns, lockdowns, rerouting of traffic, bomb-sniffing dogs on our corner," Chin said. "The true cost of the terror trials is going to be [placed] on the backs of the people who live and work in lower Manhattan."
After 9/11, "I never felt so scared in my life," said Toby Turkel, a 30-year resident who lives in the Chatham Towers highrise near the courthouse. "We lived through it. We breathed it. We tasted it. ... To do this just exacerbates the situation."
Marc Ameruso of Community Board 1, a Naval Reservist who volunteered at the twin towers site, questioned what's taking so long to place the trial.
"It's just amateur hour at the White House," he said. "Just make a decision. Tell us it's not going to be in New York [and] we'll all be happy."


Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/2010/02/06/2010-02-06_residents_protest_holding_911_terror_trial_of_khalid_shaikh_mohammed_in_new_york.html#ixzz0emWuxOD0

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