Phil Mickelson from Golf is sharing his thoughts “deep empathy”With 9/11 Families who are furious at his participation in a Saudi backed golf league.
Speaking at a press conference before the U.S. Open on Monday, Mickelson was asked for his response to a strongly-worded letter from 911familiesunited.org, a group comprised of victims’ families and survivors of the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Last week, the group sent a letter to Mickelson and Kevin Na, along with several others, claiming that they were supporting Saudi Arabia. “whitewash”They were complicit in the September 11 attacks.
Mickelson offered sympathy and condolences to the family members.
“I would say to everyone that has lost loved ones, lost friends on 9/11 that I have deep, deep empathy for them,’’ Mickelson said. “I can’t emphasize that enough. I have the deepest of sympathy and empathy for them.’’
Phil Mickelson, U.S Open (Gregory Shamus/Getty Images).
Terry Strada, 911familiesunited’s national chairperson whose husband was killed at the World Trade Center, specifically targeted the “depravity”Saudi Arabia demonstrated leadership in setting up an international organization. “support network”For the hijackers of 9/11.
Strada wrote:
A freedom-loving American like me, I’m grateful for the ability to pick where and with whom I work. And I appreciate your freedom. Being a widow of 9/11, I have a responsibility to explain the extent to which the Kingdom knowingly sent agents from the government to set up the support networks for these hijackers.
Saudis were responsible for Osama Bin Laden’s death and the 15 hijackers of September 11. Saudi Arabia was responsible for the propagation of the hate-filled Islamist ideologies that led to the terrorist attacks on 9/11. The Kingdom has also spent over 20 years denial, lying about its activities and avoiding the responsibility. They are however your partners. We were disappointed to see that you seem to enjoy doing business with them.
Given Saudi Arabia’s role in the death of our loved ones and those injured on 9/11—your fellow Americans—we are angered that you are so willing to help the Saudis cover up this history in their request for ‘respectability.’ When you partner with the Saudis, you become complicit with their whitewash, and help give them the reputational cover they so desperately crave—and are willing to pay handsomely to manufacture. The Saudis do not care about the deep-rooted sportsmanship of golf or its origins as a gentleman’s game built upon core values of mutual respect and personal integrity. The Saudis want professional golf to whitewash its image and will pay you for your help.
Mickelson was heavily criticized since joining the Saudi-backed League. The golf icon commented earlier this year that the media had dismissed the killing of Mickelson. Washington Post reporter Jamal Kashoggi at the hands of the Saudi government. Saudi financing of the league is being used to leverage the PGA Tour.
“They killed [Washington Post reporter Jamal] Khashoggi and have a horrible record on human rights,” Mickelson told his biographical author in an interview, ESPN reports. “They execute people over there for being gay. Knowing all of this, why would I even consider it? Because this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to reshape how the PGA Tour operates.”
Mickelson later apologized.
LIV Golf Invitational held its first tournament in London last weekend.
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