This is shocking. And frankly, un-American.
Politico and the Huffington Post are reporting that this morning, House Republicans ordered Capitol Hill police to arrest Josh Fox, award-winning director of Gasland, and his crew. His crime? Filming a public hearing on hydrofracking. [1,2]
Let me say that again. The hearing was open to the public. But Republicans on the committee simply didn't want him there. They also turned away an ABC News crew.
This is an unambiguous violation of the First Amendment. But why? What could they be discussing that they don't want the world to know about? If fracking is so safe, there must not be any reason to hide the details, right?
Freedom of the press applies, even on Capitol Hill. Join me in calling on Committee Chair Rep. Andy Harris to apologize, and to allow journalists to cover the hearing.
Journalists arrested at a public hearing is something you might expect to see in some third-world dictatorship -- not here. This cannot be allowed to stand.
Join me in calling for the release of Josh Fox, and a formal apology from the Committee Chair. And please help us spread the word far and wide.
Thanks,
-Dan Cantor
Executive Director, Working Families Party
Sources:
1. http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0212/72298.html
2. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/02/01/house-republicans-order-j_n_1246971.html
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