William Rodriguez, Feb 15th (1/2) By Martin Deane Photographs by Roland Standaert

(1/2), (2/2).

It was a fitting date. The day, four years ago, when Britain held the biggest ever demonstration in its history - and for peace. And that is the intent of William Rodriguez, traveling the world, fighting for justice for the 9/11 families and survivors and, by telling his story, furthering the cause of true peace - built on truth.

The venue was packed, so was the side room and the corridor outside. Friends and one stall arriving after 7pm couldn't get in. After an introduction from Annie Machon, former MI5, and from myself as Hull Peace Network, William described his recent speaking tour of Malaysia and Venezuela. In Venezuela, the FBI were caught snooping around his hotel, so William was given five bodyguards by el Presidente, Hugo Chavez. So William told us his story of September 11th. He was late for work that day. Had he arrived on time he would have gone up to the 100th floor to the Windows of the World restaurant where many of his friends worked and where he would get a free breakfast. He never made it there.

Ten minutes later there was a huge explosion that rocked the floor from underneath. A co-worker came up with his skin hanging off from his armpits to his fingertips, shouting 'Explosion! Explosion!' They thought maybe a generator had blown up. Then they heard a thump that rocked the building high up. They did not know then a plane had hit. After twenty years in the North Tower William knew the differenece between an explosion below and something happening above. He had also been working there in 1993 when the Ryder truck bomb went off.

The sprinklers were on. William heard cries for help. The water was falling down the elevator shaft and there were people stuck in a lift. With luck, Providence he calls it now as these events have made him a believer, he was able to find a ladder and rescue them.

Soon he learned a plane had hit the building and he realised he had a special mission. The doors to the floors opened with a master key, one which he had fought for years before due to his working conditions. The four other key holders had fled the building and were not returning. Working with police and firemen William opened extra access doors to each floor. At one stage he had to go on ahead because the firemen had simply flaked out climbing so many flights with heavy packs. William described the one time he felt fear. It was below the 38th floor. He knew that floor was empty, stripped bare, down to the substructure. But he heard noises, grinding like heavy machinery coming from that floor and became afraid for what that might mean.

Onwards they went. One girl froze. 'Get out of here!' William said. She replied that she was new and did not want to lose her job.

A man in a wheelchair needed taking down from the 27th floor, William helped with this but then insisted on coming back into the building. Going through the building he and the firemen heard many other bangs. A fireman wondered if it was the gas cylinders in the kitchens blowing. William told him there were no gas canisters; the kitchens were all electric. On they went. William is credited with rescuing 15 people himself that day and aiding firemen in the rescue of hundreds more. For these acts of bravery he has been commended five times by the White House.

The Republicans sought to draw him close to their centre and put him on courses to groom him for public office possibly as a senator. But he did not sell out; he threw his lot in with the families of victims and other survivors, refusing to take possibly millions of dollars that might have come his way.

Continued..... Next Page (2/2)

Photographs courtsey and Copyright ©  Roland Standaert 2007

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