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

[randog]

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.

She can be contacted at the Robinson household, where her head is proudly displayed above the mantelpiece.

Nice job, Jim--you done us proud.

[Libertina]

Thank you for clearing our name, Jim! Congratulations :)

[ahadams2]

amazing - I thought sure any leftwing reporter worth his salt would have worked in the phrase "chilling effect" (you know - that's what happens everytime leftists are caught in their own lies)...guess this guy must be new.

[joyce11111]

Yippee and Cha Ching.

[Stultis]

Actually it would have been better for the stupid commission to be disbanded entirely (although I reluctantly concede the pushing for that probably would have been overreaching).

[Consort]

I'd be experiencing schadenfreud if I knew how to spell it, heheh.

The presumed English word meaning the same thing is just as hard to spell.

epicaricacy
     /ep"-i-kar-ik'-i-see/ taking pleasure in another's misfortune: schadenfreude

[Mad_Tom_Rackham]

Way to go, Jim! This is what happens when conservatives stand up for themselves. I am honored to play a small part in supporting your excellent work. Semper vigilans!

PS:

Here's some anectodal evidence for why we NEED Free Republic! My Purchasing Manager was discussing civics with our 30-something Production Planner this week. It turns out that Mr. 30-something didn't know what the Revolutionary War was or when it occured. He also didn't know who the first US President was, and he doesn't know why the Bill Of Rights was added to the US Constitution. When told that the US Constitution was created to restrain the federal government, he gave the basic "deer in the headlights" response. So, Jim, this is why we need you.

[Amerigomag]

Thank you for including us in the process. I appreciated that I was allowed to offer my input.

I wanted two things to be accomplished. Sarah Reyes' sister gone and our attorney to be reimbursed for his efforts. I got both.

Thanks

[Mad_Tom_Rackham]

Heh heh! A reluctant donor, but we'll still cash the check. :O)

[gracie1]

Mr. Rhodes is the editor of a local newsletter, Community Alliance, that is a one-stop-shop for all things liberal in the central valley. He frequently posts his editorials and articles on IMC.

[Cicero]

Super. When you have a forum in which anybody is free to sign up and post anything they want, there are bound to be some racist and bigoted remarks. But the forum has always done an excellent job of removing anything that needs to be removed and banning anyone who needs to be banned, while still allowing a lot of free speech and argument.

The moderators have been very good at understanding where to draw the lines, which is one reason why we have so many different groups represented here--Catholics, Protestants, Jews, agnostics, atheists; whites, blacks, hispanics, and nearly any other ethnic group or nationality you can name; men, women, old people, students, military; it's a remarkable mix.

[pctech]

My hat is off to you sir, keep up the great work!

[NormsRevenge]

BUMPOLICIOUS!

YOW'ZA YOW'ZA YOW'ZA !!!!

WOOOOOHOOOOOO!!!!!

[chadsworth]

I think I Freep mailed the usual folks when I found it, including the "L"man.

[Nam Vet]

Nice to see this final statement Jim. I think your idea for travel is a GREAT one! Keep up all the good work. FReeRepublic is an oasis on the political wasteland!

Nam Vet

[eddie willers]

LOL

[chadsworth]

And special thanks to Chadsworth and LadyinRed for all their time and hard work put into the case.

We thank you from the hearts of our bottoms for the kind words and acknowledgement. :>)

You know, Fighting for Truth, Justice and the American Way.

[The Bard]

Congrats!

[eddie willers]

The conservatives hate the HRC because they are an effective force for promoting cultural diversity, they honor the role of leaders like Martin Luther King Jr, and use conflict resolution techniques to resolve problems in the community.

The Founding Fathers set up a system for "conflict resolution".
It's call the Judicial System.

And it worked, hehe.

[BOBTHENAILER]

Does the settlement mean I don't have to contribute anymore (yuk, yuk, yuk).

WWWWAAAAAAAAAHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!

Congrats on eradication of RAT hate speech.