9/11 Families United

9/11 Families United
Name	9/11 Families United
Formation	2001
Type	Advocacy group
Headquarters	New York City
Region served	United States
Leader title	Executive Director

9/11 Families United is a coalition of relatives and survivors formed after the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. The group brought together family members of victims from the World Trade Center attacks, the Pentagon attack, and United Airlines Flight 93 to pursue accountability, transparency, and compensation. Members engaged with public figures, legal institutions, and media outlets to influence inquiries, legislation, and public understanding of the attacks and their aftermath.

Background and Formation

9/11 Families United emerged in the months following the attacks on September 11, 2001, drawing participants from diverse backgrounds connected to the World Trade Center, American Airlines Flight 11, United Airlines Flight 175, American Airlines Flight 77, and United Airlines Flight 93. Early leaders and members included relatives who had ties to institutions such as the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, New York City Police Department, New York City Fire Department, and companies housed in the World Trade Center complex. The group formed alliances with organizations like the American Civil Liberties Union, Center for Constitutional Rights, and Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington while interacting with commissions and inquiries such as the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States and the 9/11 Commission Report. Founding activities involved coordination with civic actors from New York City Hall, Albany, New York, and advocacy offices in Washington, D.C..

Mission and Goals

The stated mission emphasized restitution, transparency, and prevention by supporting legislation such as the Aviation and Transportation Security Act and the Air Transportation Safety and System Stabilization Act. Goals included securing compensation through mechanisms like the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund, pressing for investigatory rigor comparable to inquiries such as the Warren Commission and the Church Committee, and promoting public policy reforms in federal agencies such as the Federal Aviation Administration, Department of Defense, and Department of Homeland Security. The organization sought accountability from actors ranging from corporate entities like Silverstein Properties to contractors implicated in post-attack recovery efforts, and promoted memorialization in venues such as the National September 11 Memorial & Museum.

Advocacy and Legal Activities

Members engaged in litigation and policy advocacy, interacting with courts including the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York and the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit. They coordinated with attorneys from firms and legal advocates connected to cases referencing statutes like the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act and litigation against states accused of sponsoring terrorism. The group supported testimony before panels such as the 9/11 Commission and participated in hearings at the United States Congress and committees like the House Committee on Homeland Security and the Senate Judiciary Committee. They worked alongside organizations such as the Legal Aid Society and the New York Civil Liberties Union to pursue legal remedies, and engaged experts from institutions like Columbia University, New York University, and the Brookings Institution.

Public Campaigns and Media Presence

9/11 Families United conducted public campaigns engaging media outlets including The New York Times, The Washington Post, CNN, MSNBC, and Fox News. Members participated in documentaries and films produced by directors and producers associated with Ken Burns, Michael Moore, and networks such as PBS and HBO. They coordinated memorial events alongside officials from City of New York and advocates working with non-profits like The Red Cross, Salvation Army, and United Way. Public appearances placed members in dialogue with politicians including Rudy Giuliani, George W. Bush, Barack Obama, and Bill Clinton, and with policy figures such as Tom Ridge, John Ashcroft, and Michael Chertoff.

Relations with Government and Other Organizations

The group maintained complex relations with entities across local, state, and federal levels, interfacing with the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, the New York State legislature, and federal departments including Department of Justice and Department of Homeland Security. It allied with civil society organizations like the National Alliance on Mental Illness, Veterans of Foreign Wars, and AMVETS for services and outreach. Internationally, members engaged with diplomatic figures and foreign institutions such as representatives from United Kingdom, Canada, and Israel in discussions on counterterrorism cooperation. The group’s relationships also intersected with investigative outlets such as The New Yorker, The Atlantic, and ProPublica.

Membership and Leadership

Membership comprised bereaved family members, survivors from flights including United Airlines Flight 175 and United Airlines Flight 93, first responders from the New York City Fire Department and New York City Police Department, and professionals affiliated with firms in the World Trade Center. Leadership included spokespeople who engaged with officials from New York City Hall, participated in congressional testimony, and coordinated with legal counsel linked to institutions like Columbia Law School and NYU School of Law. The group maintained ties to advocacy networks including Families of September 11th, Inc. and collaborated with memorial organizations responsible for the National September 11 Memorial & Museum.

Controversies and Criticisms

The organization faced disputes over strategy and alliances, contested by other stakeholders including Families of Flight 93 Victims and media commentators at outlets such as The New York Post and New York Daily News. Criticisms referenced disagreements with policy makers like Rudolph Giuliani and debates over compensation criteria in relation to the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund of 2001. Some opponents raised concerns mirrored in analyses by think tanks such as the Heritage Foundation and Brookings Institution about advocacy methods and political positioning. Debates extended to coverage in publications including Time (magazine), Newsweek, and The Economist.

Category:Organizations established in 2001 Category:September 11 attacks victims groups