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

[ambrose]

Considering how hard the moderators work to keep any kind of hate speech off the forum

Most of the "hate speech" around here comes from people who are in many (if not most) cases disruptors from the DU.

[jaz.357]

JOINT PRESS RELEASE BY FREE REPUBLIC LLC & CITY OF FRESNO [RETRACTION OF LIBELOUS STATEMENT BY HRC] Official City of Fresno Web Site ^ | 01/16/04 | City of Fresno/Free Republic

(This is the way it was first posted)!

[ambrose]

I'll add, "IN MY OPINION"

[Peach]

I agree with that completely. Despite what another poster said, I've found very few true conservatives making hateful statements on FR. They are obvious trolls who do that.

[jaz.357]

Yeah,,we should have a daily code word or secret hand shake to keep out the Riff-Raff!

[eleni121]

Congrats!

This is a victory for all Freepers.

[Dog Gone]

Nice job in sticking up for us. The true hate comes from the left.

Let us know how the Fresno Bee plays this tomorrow morning.

[CyberCowboy777]

There we go.... The money is nice, but this is what I was waiting for!

BUMP!

[YaYa123]

"Sometimes good, is good enough."

[MinuteGal]

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

Leni

[billorites]

On the city's website there's a heck of a difference in font sizes for the respective attorneys.

[thackney]

BTTT

[jaz.357]

Support Free Republic

Free Republic is funded solely by donations from readers.

...and NOW the City of Fresno!

[sarasmom]

Good work!
Thank you for sticking up for yourself and the rest of us.

[Mike4Freedom]

Good. I hate the City of Fresno so much!

I am sure that it is the government of the City of Fresno that you hate. There is no reason to hate the residents who end up paying the settlement.

It is important that we remember the distinction.

[jmstein7]

LOL!

[ATOMIC_PUNK]

http://www.indybay.org/news/2004/01/1667650.php

CITY SETTLES LAWSUIT - GIVES FREE REPUBLIC $60,000
JEEPERS FREEPERS!
By Mike Rhodes
January 11, 2004

In September of 2003 Debbie Reyes, the Chairperson of the Human Relations Commission (HRC) in Fresno, sent a Press Release to the media to warn the community about potential violence at a Free Republic (they call themselves Freepers) rally and picnic. The Press Release referred to the Freepers as a “hate group” and encouraged the public to stay away from the area.

When the media went to the site of the rally (Shaw and Blackstone) they found 5-10 flag waving “patriots” saying that they were just there to support the president. Jim Robinson, the head of the Free Republic, played his role as a persecuted martyr very well and within two weeks went on the attack with a million dollar lawsuit filed against the City of Fresno claiming that their reputation had been damaged.

The lawsuit opened a new front in an ongoing war against the HRC by conservatives in Fresno. 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 mayor and several City Council members don’t believe that the HRC should support workers struggling for a living wage, help to organize activities honoring MLK Jr. and Cesar Chavez, or to make the connections between the war in Iraq and poverty in this city.

[Howlin]

Well done, Jim.

And be sure to put a trip to meet the North Carolina Freepers on your "World Tour."

[Indy Pendance]

Looks like Free Republic is becomming a bigger threat to liberals every day. =====> evil grin :-}