CNN
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A coalition of households and survivors of the 9/11 terrorist assaults says it can protest on the “entrance door” of Augusta Nationwide Golf Membership if the establishment doesn’t rethink its choice to ask golfers who’ve performed within the Saudi-backed LIV Golf sequence to the Masters in April.
Numerous golfers who performed within the LIV Golf tour have been invited, together with World No.3 Cam Smith, Bryson DeChambeau and Phil Mickelson, one among six former Masters champions to have competed on the controversial tour.
“Within the aftermath of 9/11, our nation agreed we’d ‘By no means Overlook’ that horrible day,” 9/11 Households United mentioned in a press launch Tuesday.
“The one cause the Saudis launched LIV was to attempt to make the world overlook who they’re and what they did, together with their position in 9/11. Anybody who actually vowed to ‘always remember’ needs to be appalled by the choice by these golfers to place cash forward of their very own nation.
“On behalf of 9/11 Households United, we’re calling on Augusta Nationwide to rethink their open-door coverage to the LIV golfers. If they’re welcomed with open arms, we will likely be at their entrance door to protest in April.”
Augusta Nationwide’s spokeswoman didn’t instantly reply to CNN’s request for remark.
Fifteen of the 19 al Qaeda terrorists who hijacked 4 planes on September 11, 2001 had been Saudi nationals, however the Saudi authorities has lengthy denied any involvement within the assaults.
In 2004, the 9/11 Fee established by Congress mentioned it had discovered “no proof that the Saudi authorities as an establishment or senior Saudi officers individually funded” al Qaeda.
Nonetheless, the victims’ households have pushed for additional disclosures, and final yr the FBI launched a doc that particulars the company’s work to research the alleged logistical assist {that a} Saudi consular official and a suspected Saudi intelligence agent in Los Angeles supplied to not less than two hijackers.
Forward of LIV Golf’s maiden occasion in London in June, Terry Strada, the Nationwide Chair of 9/11 Households United, known as on Mickelson, DeChambeau, Dustin Johnson, Patrick Reed and Kevin Na to resign their participation within the occasion. All six golfers are invited to the Masters in April.
In June, Mickelson mentioned he had “deep empathy” for the victims of the 9/11 terror assaults.
“I’d say to the Strada household, I’d say to everybody that has misplaced family members, misplaced associates on 9/11 that I’ve deep, deep empathy for them. I can’t emphasize that sufficient,” the six-time main winner mentioned when questioned by reporters throughout a information convention.
“I’ve the deepest of sympathy and empathy for them.”
On the time, Strada, whose husband Tom died within the collapse of the World Commerce Middle’s North Tower mentioned Mickelson “is aware of precisely what he’s doing.”
“He and his fellow LIV golfers needs to be ashamed.”
The LIV Golf sequence is backed by Saudi Arabia’s Public Funding Fund (PIF) – a sovereign wealth fund chaired by Mohammed bin Salman, the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia.