Washington, D.C.--Members of the Committee for Waco Justice condemn the bombing of the federal building in Oklahoma City and all such acts of violence to protest injustice or further political goals. In attacking innocent people, the bombers could not right the wrongs done by the federal government against the Branch Davdians, a peaceful group of people who were no threat to themselves or their neighbors and community. We feel as badly for the victims of the Oklahoma bombing as we do for victims of the April 19, 1993 gas and tank attack outside Waco, Texas.
The Committee for Waco Justice is working to expose the systematic coverup of the federal massacre of the Branch Davidians. We believe only a complete investigation of these crimes by an Independent Counsel can begin healing America of the divisions caused by the Waco massacre and exacerbated by the Oklahoma City bombing. The Waco massacre in no way justifies the Oklahoma City bombing, but neither does the bombing justify deriding the legitimate concerns of millions of Americans about the Waco massacre.
The Committee condemns all attempts, by government or private parties, to meet violence with violence. We will oppose all attempts by the federal government to use this bombing as an excuse to further deprive Americans of our liberties.
The Committee urges the press, the public and federal officials to recognize the terrible facts that have alienated so many Americans: In July of 1992 David Koresh explicitly invited Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms' investigators to inspect his weapons. Despite Davidians' clear willingness to cooperate, on February 28, 1993 76 BATF agents, firing automatic weapons -- including from helicopters -- and throwing flash-bang grenades, raided the Davidians' home and church, Mount Carmel Center. Evidence suggests nervous agents shot first, causing Davidians to fire back in self-defense. Six mostly unarmed Davidians and four armed BATF agents died.
David Koresh, BATF and the FBI knew that if Mount Carmel, whose bullet-ridden roofs and walls contained evidence of illegal fire from helicopters, was left standing, Davidians might be acquitted and BATF agents prosecuted. It is possible BATF and FBI agents conspired, either silently or explicitly, to destroy the building, its incriminating evidence and its dozens of defiant witnesses. For 51 days the FBI sabotaged negotiations by refusing to allow the Davidians to consult attorneys or deal with third party negotiators who would ensure the FBI would not destroy evidence of BATF crimes. The FBI harassed Davidians through destruction of their property, shining of bright lights, blaring of loud music and violent sounds, and terrifying helicopter overflights and fake tank rammings.
On April 19, 1993, despite the groups' very credible promise to exit in a few days, after David Koresh finished writing a religious tract, the FBI conducted a vicious gas and tank assault that killed 76 Davidians. Mounting evidence suggests that FBI commanders systematically created a fire hazard by injecting into the building gallons of flammable CS gas dissolved in flammable methylene chloride solvent. Commanders ordered tanks to smash away at the building -- even though they knew it was filled with dozens of gallon containers of lantern fuel as well as lighted lanterns. Tanks also collapsed half the gymnasium and all three stairwells and smashed in exits and hallways, preventing most Davidians from escaping the fire.
President Clinton immediately began to promote the lie that Davidians committed "mass suicide" and murdered their own children. He is repeating that lie to this day. Attorney General Janet Reno and the United States Congress conducted investigations that were little more than whitewashes and coverups. No agents or officials even were interviewed under oath.
U.S. attorneys who prosecuted Davidian survivors participated in the withholding of and destruction of evidence of BATF and FBI crimes. And trial Judge Walter J. Smith sentenced nine Davidians to 243 years, despite jurors' assertions they believed Davidians should receive only time served for what jurors thought were the "minor" charges on which they found Davidians guilty.
Besides calling for an Independent Counsel investigation, the Committee for Waco Justice recommends a full Congressional investigation of the abuses of Americans' rights by federal law enforcement--particularly BATF and the FBI. We also call for full pardons for the Davidian prisoners. We will continue to work non-violently toward the goal of healing America through disseminating the truth about the massacre of 82 Branch Davidians.