On Sept 12th, 'everyone was compassionate': The world needs 'to be together again' - Richard Roeill

François Picard is pleased to welcome Richard Roeill, former New York Firefighter and 9/11 First Responder. His testimony reframes the legacy of September 11th not as a historical event confined to a single day, but as living history. The former New York City firefighter describes an anniversary that reactivates trauma, while the illnesses suffered by first responders make the consequences of Ground Zero ever present decades later. Yet Roeill’s testimony is not simply a narrative of sacrifice. He says that responders were misled about the dangers they faced, demanding accountability and long-term healthcare for those exposed to the very toxic air.