BEDMINSTER, NJ — A sad and tearful group of protesters stood between two American flags behind a public library, in stark contrast to the festivities at a golf tournament 3 miles down the street. They made their statements and promoted their cause, but refused to take the match to the gates of Trump National Golf Club Bedminster. “We are pleased that people are refocusing attention on this issue,” said Jay Winuk, one of the organizers of the protest. “There is no reason to go to the scene of another atrocity.” The group, a group of family members of victims of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, has spoken out strongly against the Saudi-backed LIV golf tournament being held this weekend at the club owned by former President Donald Trump. Subscribe to The Morning newsletter from The New York Times The group, 9/11 Justice, is seeking to impeach Saudi government officials they say supported the terrorists. They are outraged that Trump once agreed that the Saudi government was responsible but changed his tune, they said, to cash in on Saudi Arabia’s efforts to clean up the nation’s global image through sports. “How much money does it take to turn your back on your country, on the American people?” said Juliette Scauso, who was 4 years old when her father, firefighter Dennis Scauso, was killed in the attacks. For days, LIV golfers and Trump defended their decisions to align with the breakaway tour and accept millions of dollars from Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund, which is overseen by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. Critics of the tour say it is another example of the atrocities attributed to them as “sport washing” by the Saudis – supporting the 9/11 terrorists, murdering journalist Jamal Khashoggi and oppressing women and members of the LGBTQ community. Trump, who as a 2016 presidential candidate blamed the Saudis for the 9/11 attacks, said Thursday that “nobody has gotten to the bottom of 9/11, unfortunately.” The story continues On Friday, protesters had a chance to respond to both Trump and the golfers. Many accused the golfers of cowardice for professing sympathy for their cause while accepting LIV Golf’s money. “You’re taking a position that you agree with Saudi Arabia’s actions or, just as bad, that you’re so incredibly greedy and cruel that you really don’t care about these atrocities,” Scauso said. Organizers came to the protest armed with copies of declassified FBI documents they say show a clear link between 12 Saudi government officials and the terrorists in the months before the attacks. “It’s simple,” said Tim Frolich, who was in the south tower on 9/11. “The Saudis did it. They planned it, they funded it, and now they’re trying to pull off all that stuff with a golf tournament 50 miles from ground zero. It’s sad.” The group urged golf fans to boycott LIV Golf and asked golfers and anyone dealing with the Saudis, including broadcasters, to reconsider. On Friday morning, at a nearby Marriott that serves as headquarters for the tour at its Bedminster stop, members of the group approached David Feherty, a former CBS and NBC golf analyst who defected to join the tour even though He doesn’t have an American TV contract yet. Brett Eagleson, the president of 9/11 Justice, asked Feherty if he would listen and maybe talk to golfers about the choices they are making. “He was really very receptive,” Eagleson said. “He was really open to working with us and having a partnership with us, as opposed to being combative. I am optimistic.” But Eagleson was far less conciliatory to Trump, who said he was more culpable than the golfers because, as a former commander-in-chief, he should know better. Eagleson was part of a team that met with Trump at the White House on Sept. 11, 2019. They say Trump urged them to continue their work, which they did with vigor on Friday. Eagleson said Trump’s claim that “nobody got to the bottom of 9/11” infuriated family members of the victims beyond their already simmering anger. “Our favorites are the heroes,” he said, “and the golfers and the former president are cowards.” As the protesters spoke, several passing cars honked their horns in support, but some drivers shouted in support of Trump and one yelled at family members to go home. Winnock, whose brother, Glenn Winnock, a volunteer firefighter, died in the attacks, called the Saudi funds “blood money” and warned that whoever took them would carry their “stink” forever. “LIV Golf?” he said. “For me and many more of us, it’s more like death golf.” Several members of the group, including former Trump supporters, took turns at the lectern slamming the Saudis, the golfers and the former president. When asked what else the team had planned, Eagleson broke down while explaining the exhaustion he and others in the organization were feeling. “I’m tired of fighting,” she said through tears. © 2022 The New York Times Company
