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

[chadsworth]

In full acknowledgement, we definitely want to thank these two guys who led the charge. In spite of the city officials not giving us full cooperation and not promptly complying with the terms of the mediated settlement by not posting the retraction on the City of Fresno's News Release page, our attorneys prevailed and it was posted today. Charles followed through to completion and finally squeezed the retraction out of them.

Thank you for you fine legal work guys.

[chadsworth]

a little bump for the legalman

[notpoliticallycorewrecked]

Hi Ya all. I 'm just checking in after getting home from our school's basketball game.

It has truly been an honor to be a part of the CV Freepers. I cherish the friendship of every one of you. I would not trade a single moment at the corner of Blackstone and Shaw no matter what the weather.

It always understood that we were at odds with PeaceFresno and their ilk, but I never thought that we would have to stand against the very city that I have lived in (and paid taxes to) for years. I am still shaking my head, disbelieving the fact that we had to force them to apologize.

I look forward to many years of dinners and Freeping opportunities.
NPCW

[EdReform]

Good News Bump!

[ladyinred]

You won a great one!!! Considering how hard the moderators work to keep any kind of hate speech off the forum, I'd say you were unnecessarily slandered.

I am glad you brought that up Peach. For those who are lurking, this forum does not allow violence, profanity, or personal attacks. Since it is an open forum sometimes there are posts that do break the rules. The moderators remove these posts as soon as they are alerted to them, and believe me, they are alerted to them pretty quickly in most cases. Most freepers police themselves, if not, some other freeper(s) will!

[ladyinred]

At last! Thank goodness!

Good job Jim and Charles!

Thank you so much for clearing our names!

[ladyinred]

Looks like you finally hired a lawyer who doesn't have his head stuck up his *$%. Good for you.

Whoo Hoo bump!

[TaxRelief]

Perhaps they're prescient?

[The Right Stuff]

nice, unbiased article...thanks for posting, let's us see their mindset.

[GretchenEE]

I hope they PRINTED this in their newspaper as well as put it on the Internet.

Congratulations, big time, Jim. You did well.

[socal_parrot]

When the media went to the site of the rally (Shaw and Blackstone)

Did the FReepers visit the Silver Dollar Hofbrau afterwards? I love the Silver Dollar Hofbrau.

[ladyinred]

You know, the press jumped all over this when we were called a hate group. We ended up with our faces on the nightly news. They sent reporters out to our rally and our picnic. Now that they have the retraction, they have no interest in reporting it. I could see it if one or two ignored it, but for ALL of the local news channels, radio stations and the newspaper to ignore this press release is darned disappointing.

Amen to that one!!!!!

[JustAmy]

Now that looks like a couple of intelligent attorneys.

I may be forced to quit posting lawyer jokes.

Thanks you two!!

[TaxRelief]

60K probably just about covers the lawyers.

[ladyinred]

I believe the statement that you are referring to came from a city official, like the attorney or something didn't it?

[xzins]

Attorney maybe; it was in the thread the other day that announced the 60000 dollar settlement.

[ladyinred]

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.

Needs to be highlighted for lurkers.

[Ichneumon]

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.

Furthermore, the regular posters have done an excellent job of making it clear that such posts are not welcome here, as well. When posts of that type are made (rarely, I'm glad to say), the regulars flame the snot out of the jerk and ping the moderators.

[ladyinred]

It has truly been an honor to be a part of the CV Freepers. I cherish the friendship of every one of you. I would not trade a single moment at the corner of Blackstone and Shaw no matter what the weather.

We love you too!

[JustAmy]

We are proud that you are a member of our FResno Group.

HUGS