JOINT PRESS RELEASE BY FREE REPUBLIC LLC & CITY OF FRESNO [CITY OFFICIALLY RETRACTS LIBELOUS STMNT]

Official City of Fresno Web Site ^ | 01/16/04 | City of Fresno/Free Republic

[Jim Robinson]

JOINT PRESS RELEASE BY

FREE REPUBLIC LLC & CITY OF FRESNO

On September 12, 2003, the City of Fresno’s Human Relations Commission issued a news release describing Free Republic LLC as a “hate group” and accusing it of threatening violence towards minority groups. As a result of this, on September 22, 2003, Free Republic LLC filed a claim with the City of Fresno, which was a procedural first step in filing a lawsuit for defamation. Free Republic LLC and the City of Fresno announce that this dispute has been fully resolved.

The City of Fresno officially retracts the press release and acknowledges that the City had no basis for referring to the Free Republic as a hate group or accusing them of making threats against minorities. The City of Fresno also wishes to announce that Debbie Reyes, the Chair of its Human Relations Commission has resigned from her position, effective January 2, 2004.

Questions regarding this matter may be directed to either of the contacts set forth below.

Free Republic Charles L. Doerksen - 559 233 3434

City of Fresno Michael Slater, Assistant City Attorney – 559 621 7500

[Billthedrill]

Congratulations. So many of the folks fond of saying that other people hate them do so because they can't face the fact that they are haters themselves.

[McGavin999]

Total satisfaction, especially the part about the resignation.

[RJCogburn]

A measure of justice. Congrats!

[MileHi]

he, he, he. Do they like whipped cream on their humble pie?

[Squantos]

BaBYE DeBBie !.......;o)

Don't let the door hit ya in the butt on the way out ! Really I'm guessing she's been promoted to other city digs Y/N ??

[null and void]

Ya mess with the bull, ya get the horns.

*puzzled look* I thought that was 'You mess with Gore, you get bull..."

[tubebender]

Good Job Jim. When your travels bring you to Eureka I'll go off my Atkins diet and let you buy me a Double Chili Cheeseburger and Garlic fries at Mikes Drive-Up... "Since 1946"

[sauropod]

Good! I remember when this particular fecal matter hit the fan.

[Jen]

Great news! The good guys and gals won.

[b4its2late]

Great win!

[pointsal]

ping from NEVERLAND COUNTY

[ALOHA RONNIE]

.

FReerepublic.com =

CLARITY resolved

.

[firebrand]

She wanted to spend more time with her family.

[sauropod]

Ok. Who TF is Mike Rhodes?

[xzins]

An earlier report said that the cash settlement did not indicate on their part an acknowledgement of guilt.

This can be interpreted in no other way than as an admission of guilt.

[sauropod]

LOL!

[Mama_Bear]

Great news! The good guys and gals won.

Thanks Jen. Yes, this is good news. I am very glad to see this retraction at last, and even more glad to know that Reyes is long gone from the HRC.

I have said all along that there absolutely must be consequences for this type of behavior from our elected or appointed public officials. This time there WERE consequences, thanks to Jim and Amy taking the legal steps necessary to force a retraction from them. It would have never happened otherwise.

Thank you, Jim and Amy, for doing what needed to be done. And thank you also to ladyinred and chadsworth for the hours that you both put into this.

[NYC GOP Chick]

Woo hoo! 'Bout damn time! The drunks and cranks over on Capitol Grilling had been cackling over this for some time. I imagine they're hitting the bottle even harder after this news.

[Jim Robinson]

Thank you, Mama_Bear! And special thanks to Chadsworth and LadyinRed for all their time and hard work put into the case. And thanks to JustAmy, notpoliticallycorewrecked and all the other Fresno/Central Valley FReepers for their help and and to all FReepers everywhere for your continued support! There are still a few loose ends to wrap up, but Charles is on the case! Thank you, Charles!

Well done, everyone!!

[Humidston]

(Taken from another thread) - she [Reyes] stepped down "due to a recent career opportunity that will require a great amount of my time and attention."

*Snicker*

CONGRATULATIONS, CHIEF!