Letter to All congregations in the USA, 1968-07-09: JW involved in assassination of Kennedy

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WATCH TOWER BIBLE AND TRACT SOCIETY OF PENNSYLVANIA

OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT 124 COLUMBIA HEIGHTS, BROOKLYN, NEW YORK 11201, U.S.A.

July 9,1968

TO ALL CONGREGATIONS IN THE UNITED STATES

Dear Brothers:

Press reports have been circulated extensively throughout the country based on dispatches from Israeli-occupied Jordan trying to tie Jehovah's witnesses in with the man who assassinated Senator Robert F. Kennedy. Many letters and telephone calls have been received by the Society and we have heard that congregations and individual publishers have been confronted with the accusation that Jehovah's witnesses are somehow involved in the assassination.

When the reports first appeared in the press, the Society wrote letters to the branch offices in Israel and Lebanon to determine whether the brothers there knew the Sirhan family. We also contacted the congregations in Pasadena to see if any of the family were dedicated Jehovah's witnesses. Replies from the brothers in the Middle East and in California show that not one member of the family is a dedicated witness of Jehovah. So the press reports that have been made are false.

Now in New York the Society is making request of the wire services, such as Associated Press and United Press International, to send out a correction to all subscribers. We hope this will be done and thus the questions being raised by people everywhere will be answered. If you see anything published locally please send us a copy of it.

If a newspaper published in your city or the local radio or television station carried the false reports and no correction is made as a result of a dispatch from the wire services, it would be appropriate for the overseer to have a news release typed out according to the sample enclosed, putting his name and telephone number in the upper right-hand corner. Please do not hand this printed sample to anyone, but make up your own local typewritten copy. In cities where more than one congregation exists, the city servant should be the one to submit the news release asking for a correction to be made. It would not be appropriate for all of the overseers in the city to make the same news release to the same newspaper or radio station. It is suggested that a brief letter be written to the news media asking them to correct the impression that has been left by the report given, showing that the local congregation will appreciate it very much if the correction can be made.

WATCH TOWER

VTEBISON TDART CHIA NLEE

AIMAVYEMS 78

If the correction is made in the local newspaper or broadcast on the radio or television, please send us a report enclosing a copy of the news clipping if it is in the newspaper. We will appreciate knowing the results of this effort.

NOTE: If in your city no report on this subject appeared in the press, then there is no need to hand in the news release as that would not be appropriate.

We trust that this will help to open the way for a witness in the field service and will set the minds of people straight on this subject. Perhaps the brothers will have opportunities to explain the purposes of the work Jehovah's witnesses are doing, teaching the people the Bible, and show what we stand for and how God's law would forbid murder and assassination.

Whether the correction is printed or not, we are sure the Kingdom work will go right on and Jehovah will continue to bless his servants as they uphold the righteous principles of his Word. We pray Jehovah's blessing will be with you in your ministry.

Your brothers and fellow servants,

Watch Tower P . & J . Society

OF PENNSYLVANIA Overseer Telephone:

CORRECTION REQUESTED

Following the death of Senator Robert F. Kennedy, news reports from Taiyeba (Israeli-occupied Jordan) circulated world wide that Bishara Sirhan, father of the alleged assassin, was one of Jehovah's Witnesses. It was also said that he received financial support from Jehovah's Witnesses and that the Sirhan family were helped financially by Jehovah's Witnesses to emigrate to the United States.

This is bringing numerous letters and telephone inquiries to congregations of Jehovah's Witnesses and branch offices of the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania (governing body for Jehovah's Witnesses) throughout the world. Many persons know that Jehovah's Witnesses condemn all forms of assassination and murder, so have been confused. In a few places Jehovah's Witnesses have been subjected to unfavorable verbal reactions. Some subscribers to magazines published by Jehovah's Witnesses have canceled subscriptions.

The Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society did not know the Sirhan family. It took time to get the facts from several countries. Now it is well established that none of the Sirhan family are Jehovah's Witnesses. They were never given financial assistance by Jehovah's Witnesses at any time. Los Angeles Times of June 8 reports that members of the First Nazarene Church of Pasadena, California, sponsored the Sirhan family in their move to the United States, but Mrs. Sirhan attends the Presbyterian Church now. The New York Times and Washington Post confirm this. Bishara Sirhan, who has consistently denied reports of connections with Jehovah's Witnesses, insists he is Greek Orthodox.

It will be appreciated if those who published the untrue reports will print a correction to answer the many inquirers and set matters straight.