How will you spend your Thanksgiving break?
More than 1,000 demonstrators rallied outside Manhattan's federal courthouse in the pummeling rain on Saturday.
For more than two hours, the group protested against the Obama administration's decision to prosecute alleged Sept. 11 mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and four other suspected terrorists in New York City's civilian federal court.
The rally was organized by the 9/11 Never Forget Coalition, which comprises firefighters, families of victims, survivors of the attack and other affected citizens.
According to Tim Brown, co-organizer of the rally, the coalition is fighting for the terrorists to be tried in a military court.
"We believe that these terrorists are war criminals who don't deserve the rights that the U.S. Constitution grants them in a civilian court," Brown said. "We're going to give them a stage and a megaphone — all the publicity that they desire."
Brown said even if Mohammed and the terrorist suspects were given the death penalty, the criminal trial would have already allowed them to voice their hatred, inspire more terrorists and die as martyrs.
Among the rally speakers was FDNY firefighter and U.S. Marine Peter Regan, who lost his father in the attacks and disagrees with accusations that those against the trial are afraid.
"We are not afraid," Regan said. "Courage is digging for nine months on hands and knees in the rubble for the remains of our loved ones."
Members of the crowd held signs opposing President Obama and Attorney General Eric Holder. One poster read, "The administration belongs in Guatemala with the terrorists."
Another speaker was Sept. 11 survivor Lauren Manning. When she was rescued from the World Trade Center, 82 percent of her body was burned. According to Manning, a repeat of this devastation could take place if the terrorist suspects are brought to New York.
"Holder said he'll take the heat if this trial provokes another attack," she said. "Excuse me, I'm not willing to risk so much for such a small comfort."
But there are also people who lost family members in the attack who support a federal trial. Donna O'Connor, 55, lost her pregnant daughter in the second tower.
"It has been a long road in the past eight years. It is about time that we went back to our rule of law," O'Connor said.
O'Connor said she trusts a civilian federal trial because it allows more disclosure of court information. In a military case, the documents are restricted from public access.
According to NYU politics professor Steven Brams, federal courts have been successful in convicting hundreds of terrorist suspects before. Brams believes in the effectiveness of a civilian court.
"I don't think security is a serious issue. The NYPD and other law enforcement agencies can handle that quite well," Brams said. "There should be no real worry of it turning into a national risk or circus trial."
And Daniel Weick, former president of NYU's American Constitution Society, supports a civilian trial.
"These men committed a crime: mass murder. They are not warriors, and they should not be treated differently from any common criminal."
