Mike Gravel

The Citizens’ 9/11 Commission Campaign
is a new activist organization founded and led by former Senator Mike Gravel (D-Alaska, 1969-1981). Senator Gravel is widely known for having read the Pentagon Papers into the Senate record during the Vietnam war era, helping to bring that war to an end. This new campaign has been exploring the feasibility of filing ballot propositions in several states (Oregon, Massachusetts, and others). When passed, this legislation would create an independent 9/11 commission that would be headquartered in the first state to pass such a law. This powerful new investigative commission would be:

1. funded by the citizens via the state treasury (mandated by the law)
2. free of governmental interference
3. vested with subpoena power and the ability to take testimony under oath
4. enhanced legally and financially by other states and localities that pass “sister” initiatives.

The campaign’s approach is the method of direct democracy as it is now practiced in 24 states using the state ballot initiative. The cause of direct democracy has been the principal passion of Senator Mike Gravel since his two terms in the Senate. As Senator Gravel has stated: “The 9/11 movement’s successful decade of citizen education can now give way to an actionable citizen’s plan for change – a plan to pass laws that will create a new investigation!”

The campaign’s steering committee consists of Senator Mike Gravel, executive director Byron Belitsos, one of the founders of 911truth.org, Ken Jenkins, a pioneering 9/11 activist and video producer, as communications director,
and George Ripley who was an aide to Senator Gravel’s 2008 presidential campaign, and also a supporter of Doris “Granny D” Haddock who walked across the USA at age 90 for federal and state election campaign finance reform.

To contribute to the 9/11 Commission Campaign, visit the Donate section on the campaign website.

Update September 07, 2011:
The 9/11 Commission Campaign applied for a citizen ballot initiative in Massachusetts on August 3rd, and received certification from the Mass. Attorney General’s office on Sept 7th. By Massachusetts law, there is now two months to collect 100,000 signatures (a goal which exceeds the legal requirement). This will require the services of a ballot access professional. To succeed, the campaign needs to raise $40,000 a week for the next 6 weeks! Please help with a donation as indicated above.

Update September 11, 2011:
Mike Gravel gave the closing speech at the Toronto Hearings.

Update November 2, 2011: Initiative campaign to target Colorado and North Dakota

After weeks of careful research, the Citizens’ 911 Commission Campaign has decided that Colorado and North Dakota will be its target ballot-initiative states for the 2012 election cycle. “Colorado has a very favorable political climate and profile, and North Dakota offers an easier and less costly signature-gathering process,” said the Campaign’s new general manager, Ken Freeland. “Also, the filing and signature-gathering timelines in both states are favorable. Colorado is the overall the best state and will be our key focus,” said Campaign founder Senator Mike Gravel. “North Dakota provides a back-up strategy in case we can’t fund Colorado. But our hope is to fund signature-gathering campaigns in both states and to pursue two winning initiative campaigns next year.”

After winning certification in Massachusetts in early September, the Campaign launched its first signature-gathering effort in that state. The Campaign decided to postpone this effort to a later election cycle because of the very short window provided in Massachusetts initiative law for gathering the required 82,000 signatures. “By contrast, the requirements in Colorado and North Dakota are easier to meet, and the funding required in each case is relatively modest,” said Gravel.

Update May 4, 2012: Mike Gravel departs from the Citizens’ 9/11 Commission Campaign

Mike Gravel has separated from the Citizens’ 9/11 Commission Campaign and moved funds donated largely by 9/11 truth activists to another organization which he founded and chairs that is not directly connected to 9/11. For more details, see the 9-11cc website.