Freedom of the Press: Sign Petition to Support James Risen
August 4, 2014
The U.S. government is insisting that New York Times reporter James Risen reveal a confidential source — or go to jail. Risen says he won’t capitulate.
Pentagon Papers whistleblower Daniel Ellsberg says:
“The pursuit of Risen is a warning to potential sources that journalists cannot promise them confidentiality for disclosing Executive Branch criminality, recklessness, deception, unconstitutional policies or lying us into war.”
Please sign the petition:
We Support James Risen Because We Support a Free Press
To: President Obama and Attorney General Holder
Your effort to compel New York Times reporter James Risen to reveal his sources is an assault on freedom of the press. Without confidentiality, journalism would be reduced to official stories — a situation antithetical to the First Amendment. We urge you in the strongest terms to halt all legal action against Mr. Risen and to safeguard the freedom of journalists to maintain the confidentiality of their sources.