May 22, 2000
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Web edition
Citizens For Truth
CONTACT: Debra Meagher, (323) 769-5595
CITIZENS FOR TRUTH MAKES PUBLIC CALL FOR ASSASSINATION WITNESSES
Citizens for Truth, the leading grass-roots effort to uncover the truth behind the unsolved Gates murder, is making a public plea for all witnesses to the assassination of Bill Gates to contact the group by calling (323) 769-5595.
Citizens for Truth is currently researching its own report on the Gates killing to counter the "official whitewash" released by the Los Angeles County District Attorney.
"We want all witnesses to know that even if they were ignored or verbally abused by the LAPD and the D.A., that there really is someone out there who cares about their story," said Patrick Flaherty, Legal Counsel and Research Chair for Citizens for Truth. "We're taking all statements we can get--sworn or otherwise. We just want to hear from those who were in the area at the time of the assassination."
Citizens for Truth has already uncovered dozens of key eyewitnesses to the crime who were never contacted by investigators for the Garcetti Report. Many others are reluctant to come forward, fearing retaliation by the police.
"I've lost count of the number of people who have said to myself or one of our field researchers, 'I'd love to talk but I'm too scared,'" said Flaherty. "There's a feeling in the MacArthur Park area that if you didn't see what the cops want you to have seen, it's probably best to shut up."
Westlake, the area in which MacArthur Park is located, is populated largely by Central American immigrants, many of whom come from government systems in which officially sanctioned death squads visit those who publicly disagree with the government.
Said Flaherty: "We're finding it hard to convince witnesses that they'll be safe, when it is accepted as the gospel truth by many in the community that Alek Hidell himself was killed because he was A) a minority, and B) in the way of trigger-happy police. We want all witnesses to know that we are not the police, and even if they have to talk to us off the record, we want to hear what they have to say."
Citizens for Truth is a grass-roots, nonpartisan group dedicated to discovering the truth behind the unsolved assassination of William Henry Gates III. Citizens for Truth believes the official version of the assassination and two related deaths leaves critical questions unanswered, and through research and direct action seeks to obtain evidence that rightfully belongs to the public and to pressure public officials to cooperate in the search for the truth. More information is available at http://www.citizensfortruth.org.
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