Snowden anniversary a reminder of the need to protect whistleblowers and journalists
AP Photo/George Brich
Whistleblowers are essential to a free and unfettered press.
Whistleblowers play a critical role in informing the public and holding the government to account.
Sources who act out of conscience to leak information to the press further our democracy. Whistleblowers like Daniel Ellsberg, Chelsea Manning, and Edward Snowden, have exposed some of our government’s gravest abuses.
Unfortunately, whistleblowers are often prosecuted and jailed. That’s wrong. Whistleblowers and the journalists they work with should be celebrated, not punished.
Stop the deportation of Heng Guan
Asylum-seeker who exposed Chinese abuses must remain in U.S.
-
Write a letter to lawmakers to stop the deportation of Heng Guan
Tell lawmakers to stop the Trump administration from deporting the man who helped journalists expose the horrors of Uyghur camps in Xinjiang, China. His life could be at risk.
Featured Items
-
Why Edward Snowden Cannot Receive a Fair Trial in the United States
There are a multitude of errors in the one paragraph Thomas Friedman dedicated to Edward Snowden in his New York Times column yesterday (Snowden’s leak was the opposite of a “data dump;” he didn’t “flee” to Russia, the U.S. trapped him there; “authentic” whistleblowers are punished all the time), …
-
Bradley Manning Did Not Hurt the United States
In his sentencing hearing yesterday, Bradley Manning took the stand and apologized for the "hurt" he inflicted on the United States. While the legal strategy of Manning’s attorney at this point—as it would be for any attorney—is to convince the judge to reduce Manning's sentence as much as possible, …
-
Security, Secrecy and the Democratic Demands of an Informed Public
The American experiment is premised on the idea that an informed public is central to self-governance and a functioning democracy. But today, that fundamental idea is being challenged, at times by the very people – journalists and the media – who should be its staunchest defenders. In a new post …
-
New York Times Dangerously Ignores Its Own Words In Calling For Extradition of Edward Snowden
In a move that should be worrying for all whistleblowers, the New York Times editorial board has essentially called for NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden to be extradited from Russia, saying that he had no rightful claim to asylum.
-
Bradley Manning Espionage Act Conviction a Blow to Both Whistleblowers and Journalists
In the most important trial affecting whistleblower rights in years, Bradley Manning—the admitted source to the WikiLeaks disclosures—has been convicted on nineteen counts, including multiple Espionage Act and Computer Fraud and Abuse Act charges. He faces over 100 years in jail. While the most pernicious charge, “aiding the …
-
Revealed: The 95 FOIA Requests Flagged for Pentagon Approval
A few weeks ago, the nonpartisan organization Cause of Action posted a story on its website about a secret Pentagon policy that calls for certain Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests that may generate media attention to first be approved by the Pentagon. Naturally, I was eager to find out …
-
Why Was the Military Trying to Intimidate Journalists at Bradley Manning Trial Yesterday?
Yesterday, closing arguments began in the trial of accused WikiLeaks whistleblower Bradley Manning. But even as the prosecution's arguments in the courtroom may have an enormous impact on journalism, another disturbing issue of press freedom was unfolding in the media center: reporters covering the trial were being intimidated by members …
-
Congress' Dangerous Attempts to Define “Journalist” in Shield Law Threaten to Exclude Bloggers
This has been cross-posted from the Electronic Frontier Foundation. Lawmakers in Washington are again weighing in on who should and should not qualify as a journalist—and the outcome looks pretty grim for bloggers, freelancers, and other non-salaried journalists. On July 12, the Justice Department released its new guidelines on …
-
Guantanamo’s Indefinite Prisoners Will Finally Have Cases Reviewed Just as Senate Committee Set to Hold Hearing On Closing Prison
Attorneys representing Guantanamo prisoners were notified by a government official late Friday night that the men who the Obama administration has determined can neither be prosecuted nor released will finally have their cases reviewed to determine whether they should still be indefinitely detained. In an email I obtained, retired Navy …
-
Court Guts Reporter's Privilege in One of the Most Significant Press Freedom Cases in Decades
Often forgotten amidst journalists’ public personas and front page scoops is the crux of their profession: the practice of gathering news. Reporting, at its best, consists of bringing to light information powerful factions want kept in the dark, and the sources for these stories are often people whose careers, or …
Something went wrong and your email updates subscription could not be processed. Please visit our signup page and try again.
Thank you for urging your lawmakers to stand up for press freedom and human rights.
Share this message on social media: