Pepper is author of Act of State which is an expose of the US Government's involvement in the assassination of Martin Luther King. King was friendly with Pepper, and Act of State is written with passion and solid research. As an attorney, Pepper won a jury trial on behalf of the King family that proved their was a conspiracy to kill MLK.
As James Hufferd bloged, "Pepper has represented
Sirhan Sirhan and other high-profile political accusees ....and was active in the NYC CAN case. He authored this statement, providing a focus and
recommendation for the 911 Truth movement, on request."
Stay tuned, I will try to interview Pepper for this blog, based on the hopeful statements made below.
Attorney William Pepper's
"SIDELINES VIEW OF THE STATUS OF THE 911 TRUTH MOVEMENT"
As one who has supported
and followed the 911 Truth Movement, largely from the sidelines I have been
asked to submit some observations about the current status and potential future
direction of the effort. As a result of my detachment from the ongoing
activities, thus being unaware of events in various areas of the country, I am
not at all clear that my views may be as relevant as those of others who have
been more closely involved.
At the outset, allow me to express my respect and
admiration for the many individuals –architects, engineers, lawyers,
theologians, educators, researchers, documentarians and other professionals,
along with victims’ family members, former military officials and ordinary
citizens who have kept the search for the truth alive for over a decade. Their
tenacious commitment is precisely what is required of citizens of a Republic
when it faces governmental obstruction manifested in the blatant refusal to
provide answers to questions and issues ignored by the official investigation.
One of the difficulties that this, and any other such Movement faces is the fact
that its member/activists have often greatly differing degrees of political
awareness. This is bound to affect policy and practice. The process of
radicalization of committed activists is a gradual one and results in some
individuals seeing the events of 911 as a single issue rather than being a part
of an ongoing multi faceted effort to exercise control over the lives of the
citizens and the fruits of the earth’s natural resources earmarked for the
profitable use by the few. In this respect, an alliance with the Occupy Movement
is long overdue. I know that sections of that Movement (which itself is
suffering from fragmentation and loss of direction, as well as infiltration and
subversion – the latter may also be considered by the 911 Movement) have had an
ongoing interest in the events of 911.
My sense also is that the Movement could
benefit from a more unified approach and that the many activities which are
going on need a coordinated public relations presence. Mainstream media will
continue to ignore these efforts and fragmentation aids and abets public
ignorance. When one becomes aware that the left/liberal or more progressive
media also has been co-opted and that some of the more illustrious commentators
have become gatekeepers, the problem is clearly compounded. This reality needs
to be addressed by some in the Movement who have media experience.
At the end of
the day, I believe that the forces of power are simply waiting out the 911 Truth
Movement, and that all of the books, articles and documentaries will become part
of the dust heap of history. That would be a tragic end of this significant
effort.
I have long believed that the memorialization of all of the good work
and factual revelations would only be historically perpetuated and possibly
result in justice for the families of victims through the commencement of a well
planned legal action brought in a viable Federal District Court Jurisdiction.
The cost would be enormous; the results, probably worth every penny.
With
respect to all those who have previously tried to go this route, the efforts
have been flawed, in one way or another. The experience is a valuable teacher. I
believe that critical witnesses are still available and that the evidence has
continued to be developed. I hope that these thoughts, or some of them, may be
of use to the Movement and the very special individuals who have kept it alive.
I am humbled by their struggle.
W.F. Pepper
Biography from WilliamPepper.com:
Dr. William F. Pepper
William Francis Pepper is a barrister in the United Kingdom and
admitted to the bar in numerous jurisdictions in the United States of
America. His primary work is international commercial law. He has
represented governments in the Middle East, Africa, South America, and
Asia. Today, Pepper represents Sirhan Sirhan, the gunman convicted in
the assassination of Senator Robert F. Kennedy in June 1968.
Bill Pepper was a friend of Martin Luther King in the last year of his
life.
Some years after King's death, Bill Pepper went on to represent James
Earl Ray in his guilty plea, and subsequent conviction. Pepper believes
that Ray was framed by the federal government and that King was killed
by a conspiracy that involved the FBI, the CIA, the military, the
Memphis police and organized crime figures from New Orleans and Memphis.
He later represented James Earl Ray in a televised mock trial in an
attempt to get Ray the trial that he never had.
He then represented the King family in a wrongful death civil trial,
King family vs. Loyd Jowers and "other unknown co-conspirators." During a
trial that lasted four weeks Bill produced over seventy witnesses.
Jowers, testifying by deposition, stated that James Earl Ray was a
scapegoat, and not involved in the assassination. Jowers testified that
Memphis police officer Earl Clark fired the fatal shots. On December 8,
1999, the Memphis jury found Jowers responsible and found that the
assassination plot included also "governmental agencies." The jury took
less than an hour to find in favor of the King family for the requested
sum of $100.
William Pepper is heavily involved in Human Rights Law, for a time
convening the International Human Rights Seminar at Oxford University,
during which time individuals such as Hugo Chavez, the President of
Venezuela, accepted invitations to address the seminar.
He lives in the US currently -not primarily- but travels frequently to
England.
