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Engineer Rodger Herbst reads a statement to supporters outside Congressman Jim McDermott's office on 7th Avenue in downtown Seattle.
photo by the writer
Architects and Engineers Ask for New Look at 9/11
1000 concerned professionals refuse to ignore the laws of physics
by Doug Collins
On February 19, a group of a dozen "truthers" met in downtown Seattle outside the office of Congressman Jim McDermott to deliver a petition asking for a new official inquiry into the 9/11 attack.
The petition is signed by more than 1000 architecture and engineering professionals who are not satisfied with the official investigation which was concluded years ago.
The event was organized by Architects and Engineers for 9/11 Truth, which coordinated similar events in many cities on the same day.
According to engineers signing the petition, one of the main problems with the conclusions of the official investigation is that it does not explain the near-free-fall speed of the collapse of the towers, which points toward structural failure much closer to the base of the buildings. Molten metal was also observed by many witnesses after the collapse, a phenomenon that is also unexplained by the official story. Because of these inconsistencies, the petition asks for a look into the "possible use of explosive devices" to bring the towers down.
Spokesperson Rodger Herbst, an engineer and a signer of the petition, read a detailed statement to those gathered on the sidewalk. He summarized, "It's just requesting a new investigation."
Jeff Rische explains a flyer to a passer-by. Security guards in background.
photo by the writer
At least a few people in the gathering were professionals who had signed the petition, including Tom Bartron, a Seattle-area architect who says that he first became interested in the 9/11 truth issue when he saw early pictures of the damage at the Pentagon. He said the pictures showed no apparent airplane debris, and an intact lawn next to the damage.
Activists for 9/11 truth have been frustrated by the lack of media and political interest in the topic. Supporter Jeff Rische, a small business owner, remarked, "I've been hassling Jim McDermott's office for a year now to get him to do something."
The small crowd was not permitted to go up to McDermott's office despite having made an appointment with McDermott's staff. Security guards informed them that the group resembled a protest, therefore the building owners would not allow them in. Some of the supporters were holding signs and passing out leaflets to passers-by.
Two individuals, including Ben Collett of 9/11 Truth Seattle, were eventually allowed inside to deliver the petition to McDermott's staff.
One security guard, who had heard the reading of the statement, later approached the group and asked for a leaflet.
After the petition was delivered, the group headed toward Congressman Jay Inslee's office in Shoreline, WA.
Engineer Chris Lyon, another member of Architects and Engineers for 9/11 Truth, delivered the petition to the Bellingham, WA office of Congressman Rick Larsen.
In addition to being active in the 9/11 truth movement, Rodger Herbst is also a director of the Washington Free Press. ◆