PRESS RELEASE - April 14, 2014
On JFK's birthday (Thursday, May 29th), a peaceable assembly in petition for release of all Kennedy assassination-related records still withheld, most notably by the Central Intelligence Agency, will begin at 12:30 p.m. on public terraces of the John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts, 2700 F St., NW, Washington D.C.
Initiated by Karl Golovin, a retired U.S. Customs special agent, "the right to peaceably assemble, and petition for redress of grievances may not be suppressed or prohibited, as 'under color of law' by, for example, imposing inherently unconstitutional permit and regulatory requirements," says Golovin. "In the United States, the government isn't to make people create an organizational hierarchy, submit plans and ask permission before publicly assembling to require that the government immediately change and stop doing something evil. Of course, the nature of governing authority through most of human history has been to avoid or manage criticism, to maintain absolute control and discourage public gatherings large enough to establish undeniable awareness of a need for change. But in America, the Constitution says that if we have a grievance, we have the right to show up," he said. "Those we've placed in governing responsibility should welcome this process of receiving feedback and requiring their accountability, not mischaracterize it as 'protesting' or 'civil disobedience.'"
Following the assembly, those gathered may disperse and peaceably reassemble elsewhere, perhaps at the White House or CIA Headquarters, "to emphasize the immediacy of our grievance," Golovin said. "In first assembling, we are creating a moment for spontaneity. In that moment and those to follow, all present should remain orderly and peaceful; any who instigate or participate in disorderliness or violence should be immediately shunned, as likely planted by others to discredit the assembly; this is a day for peaceably assembling, in petition for redress of specific grievances."
There are no plans for speakers during the assembly. "This is not about people gathering to be entertained, and any making the effort to be here will no doubt already understand the issues at stake. We have become far too comfortable with routinely gathering only online, or just to hear experts speak and then ourselves go home, buy more books and continue always studying, always preparing, yet perhaps never joining others in taking effective political action. This assembly is about experiencing the essential importance of our collective presence, gathering in expectation that those in government will promptly initiate a meaningful response; release of the records," Golovin said.
Between this press release and May 29th, Golovin anticipates publicly displaying a sign and distributing both flyers and USB flash drives of the video, calling for the May 29th assembly:
- On April 21st, 2014, at both the John F. Kennedy National Historical Site (JFK Birthplace) and JFK Presidential Library and Museum, Boston, MA;
- On the morning of April 22, 2014, during the broadcast of "Good Morning America," from the Rockefeller Center, New York, NY;
- Between April 22, 2014 and May 29th, on Pennsylvania Avenue, in front of the White House, and other appropriate venues in and around Washington, D.C.
Also on May 29th, if all records related to JFK's assassination are not released on or before that date, Golovin anticipates calling for subsequent assemblies on the public terraces of the Kennedy Center, perhaps as soon as July 4, 2014 (if merited by public awareness and enthusiasm, noting that several hundred thousand people will already be in Washington for the fireworks), on November 22, 2014 (the 51st anniversary of JFK's murder), and thereafter as necessary, including on the date yet to be announced for filming in Nov/Dec of the 2014 Kennedy Center Honors.
Golovin is hoping many will heed this call to peaceably assemble and prompt the President to require the CIA's immediate release of the records. "If as many people show up as have expressed outrage about the government's conduct in this matter over the 50 years since November 22, 1963, the government will promptly release the records. Peaceably assembling, not just online blogging and submitting written or electronic petitions, is the means provided by the Constitution whereby the American people may actually begin regaining control of our constitutional republic," Golovin said.
Golovin remembers a quote by Kennedy, "One person can make a difference, and everyone should try." He hopes hundreds, thousands, or more may find inspiration in those words.
Golovin said that in part due to the proliferation of social media, the people of the United States have become complacent and forgotten the power of simply showing up in large numbers. "The government can't treat assembly as civil disobedience. It is actually the height of civil obedience to peaceably show up and hold our government accountable," Golovin stated. "It would be highly uncivil of authorities to prevent or disrupt it."
Concurrent with this press release, Golovin has posted on YouTube an update to a previous video on this topic that received about 1700 views after initial posting January 4, 2014. The video may accessed via domain names www.HonorJFK.com, www.MadAsHell.net and www.CrackTheNut.com , as are currently forwarded to the video, or at the link provided on the Facebook Event page for the May 29th assembly, linked via www.JFKvigil.com .
The video and related Facebook Event page issue a call to action:
"On JFK's birthday, peaceably and simultaneously assemble in communities across the U.S. and world, but especially on the public terraces of The Kennedy Center, Washington, D.C., petitioning by your presence for: 1) Immediate release, in full, of all still secret assassination-related records; 2) Reining in of the CIA to its original, intelligence-only mandate; 3) Establishing a specific date for annual, global recognition of John Kennedy's life by vigilance in ending the intimidation of government secrecy and the violence it perpetuates, shining the light of transparency in governments everywhere."
"There is no legitimate reason for continued withholding of ANY information about JFK's assassination," said Golovin, citing as just one example of many reasons to doubt what he calls the "theory of non-conspiracy" published by the Warren Commission: "In 1985, sworn testimony in a Miami federal trial - never publicized by mainstream media - implicated E. Howard Hunt, Frank Sturgis, and other CIA personnel in the assassination. Before dying in 2007, Hunt taped his own confession - thin on details of self-described 'benchwarmer' status in the plot - yet implicating the involvement of not just Sturgis, but other CIA figures, including William King Harvey, David Sanchez Morales, and David Atlee Phillips.
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