We are deeply disappointed in President Biden’s failure to exonerate Ethel Rosenberg. This is both a personal disappointment to my family and a political one. Despite overwhelming evidence that Ethel was not a spy and the government knew this before convicting and executing her, President Biden did not have the courage to admit our government’s wrongful actions and apologize.

Despite Biden’s failure, we are very grateful for the support of thousands of people who joined with us to share the new information, signed the petition, and sent letters of support to the Pardon Office. We are particularly grateful to Congressman Jim McGovern and Isabella Edo for their support and advocacy. With their help, and your help, we have been successful in correcting the historical record.

One bright spot on January 20 was the long-overdue return of Leonard Peltier to his family and community. Leonard is an RFC Advisory Board member and several generations of his family have received RFC grants. We’re so grateful that he’s going home.

We’re not finished with this fight; stay tuned for additional updates. In the meantime, thank you for standing in solidarity with the RFC and my family.

Sincerely,

Jennifer Meeropol

RFC Executive Director and granddaughter of Ethel and Julius Rosenberg

September 10, 2024

The National Security Agency (NSA) released a formerly classified document confirming that the U.S. government knew that Ethel Rosenberg was not a spy long before her trial and execution. In response, her sons, Michael and Robert Meeropol, and the Rosenberg Fund for Children call on President Biden to issue a proclamation stating that Ethel was wrongfully convicted and executed.

Ethel and her husband, Julius Rosenberg, were executed 71 years ago during the anti-communist hysteria of the Cold War Era. They had been convicted of conspiracy to commit espionage, in what was called “the crime of the century.” Their sons were only six and 10 years old when their parents were killed.

The release of this August 22, 1950 memo serves as the capstone for an overwhelming body of evidence that the U.S. government knew that Ethel Rosenberg never spied for the Soviet Union.

Jennifer Meeropol, RFC Executive Director and granddaughter of the Rosenbergs, says, "President Biden has the power to right this historic injustice, redress the harm done to my family, and bring peace to my father and uncle in their lifetimes. The Rosenberg Fund for Children was established by my father, Robert, almost 35 years ago in memory of his parents and as a testament to the community of progressive people who stood with him and his brother when their family was targeted. The RFC joins my father and uncle in calling on President Biden to act swiftly to address this grievous injustice.”

Read the full press release.