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

[GeronL]

hhhhhmmmmmm... why did I never notice this article before?

good work!

[hollywood]

(Belated) Congratulations! Any chance the wording of this precedent-setting retraction could now be used to go after developers of those hate-site list sw packages that (I think) have FR black-listed?

[stevie_d_64]

Harumph...Harumph...Harumph......

Hey wait a minute...I didn't get a Harumph outta that guy!!!

Later,
Steve

[Robert Teesdale]

Congratulations! I'm enjoying this news tremendously. What joy it is to see this self-righteous liberal twit canned as well. There is some justice in the world, and the good guys do win sometimes. Take that $60,000 and enjoy every penny of it!

[Thumper1960]

BTTT!

[Buckeroo]

Jim -

Don't forget that you are no angel, pal.

[Amore]

Congratulations on another job well done!

[Ronly Bonly Jones]

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.

Almost shedding a half-frozen tear.

Tear-falling pity dwelleth not in this eye. Shak.

[pepperdog]

"darling centerpiece"

Gosh, I haven't been called darling in the longest time. Hi to all you darling centerpieces!

[fideist]

The U.S.A.: Questioning La Paz __ Special __ • the U.S.A. in war Eduardo Stanley The Standard . The U.S.A., March of the 2003. Debbie Reyes. "the councilmen of the city do not understand that to protest and to express themselves it is fundamental part of the social life. We are seeing the threatened democracy; this is looked more like a dictatorship." - Them Kimber, ex- councilman of the city of Fresno Fresno (the U.S.A.). - The dismissal of the Dr Sudarshan Kapoor of the Commission of Human rights of the City of Fresno on the part of the councilman Jerry Duncan the past 19 of March, created a fort impact in this city of almost average million inhabitants and located in the heart of the center of the state. The dismissal took place a day after the Commission please requested to the city a declaration in a pacific solution to the problem with Iraq. The proposal had been written before the beginning of the war. Jerry Duncan considered the request like "anti war". Duncan, the only republican councilman of the seven who has the city, had participated in an act organized by its party in the State University of Fresno where it supported the war and it called contemptuously "unpatriotic" to those who is against the same one. The 26 of March, the Commission of Human rights summoned a press conference to explain its attitude, that trasformó in an act of protest by almost the 160 assistants. The Dr Sudarshan Kapoor, of 69 years, member of the pacifist Commission for more than 12 years and recognized in the region, is founding of the Center De No Violence of Fresno, ex- professor of the local and participant University in numerous commissions and organizations who promote the mutual respect between ethnic communities and the pacific resolution of conflicts by means of the dialogue. The Commission of Human rights of Fresno was created in 1986 before the pressures of the public opinion by police abuses. "the war represents the failure of the efforts to improve the human condition. This war in individual is having a negative effect in our community. The budgetary cuts required by the war will affect the most marginalized programs drastically destined to, including poor men, children and old ", it express the official notice of the Commission read when beginning the press conference. The alluded to programs include food, public health, environmental protection and education. For many, the happened thing in Fresno is symptomatic of which it happens at national level. "the Commission does not have a political project; Jerry Duncan, if ' ", said to Debbie Reyes, member of the Commission of Human rights. "we are not a partisan organization, we promote the participation and the expression, the dialogue in the society and the understanding between ethnic groups". For Reyes, to declare itself against the war is the correct thing considering the consequences negative. "I also have relatives in the army? What it wanted more is that they return right now, safe and sound ". "it is not the Commission the one that is dividing to the community, but the partisanship of politicians like Jerry Duncan", said Lynn Jacobsson, professor of the State University of Fresno, that also accused the councilman "to repeat you distort dangerous on the war in Iraq which they would surprise the own company". When speaking to the presents, the Dr Kapoor said not to be surprised by the attitude of Duncan and added that "I am not angered with him, is he who is angered with me". The Dr Kapoor said that he would consider the supply of another councilman, Brad Castle, to continue in the Commission. The members of the Commission of Human rights of Fresno are named by the councilmen. But it is not clear if these can dismiss them or if the government of the city must vote in this sense, aspect that is hoped to clarify legally. Kapoor, that was moved before the public support, reaffirmed its pacifist vocation and said that inside or outside the Commission it would continue his comuniaria participation. The public pressure was successful and after a made meeting Thursday 27 of March, summoned by the mayor of Fresno, Alan Autry, Duncan apologized to the Dr Kapoor and it requested to him continued to the front of the Commission. Nevertheless, the government of the city will discuss the objectives of the Commission and its relation with the government, something that stops some is part of a pressure of established interests. "They always put the agenda, the subjects to discuss and the terms. We do not have capacity to establish an own speech ", said Chávez Pole, of the Committee Pro One of rights of the immigrants. Debbi Reyes, in spite of its optimism, confesses that "only we won a battle". The problem is that in all war always there are victims, the majority innocent.

[WasDougsLamb]

Wonderful Job! Keep up the excellent work, Jim.

[BaBaStooey]

Looks like if you screw with the bull, you get the horns!

[South40]

I've been here for over two years and, as a minority, have never felt threatened.

What'd I miss? ;-)

[Middle Man]

"...Debbie Reyes, the Chair of its Human Relations Commission..."

Obviously, she was a recognized authority on human relations to have made such a remark in the first place. [grin]

[jagrmeister]

I'm glad that Free Republic acted swiftly against this slanderous charge and intolerance demonstrated by a public official. The days of leftists dividing our country by race and through race-baiting are slowly but surely coming to an end.

[JusCurious]

?

[daddypatriot]

Wonderful! Wonderful! Wonderful!

[Miles Vorkosigan]

Subtitle: "After b#tch-slapping, Fresno traitors back down like cowardly women."

[Just mythoughts]

I think that the Republicans on the Senate Judiciary need your help.

[Jabba the Nutt]

To bad you didn't include the appointment of a FReeper to the Human Rights Commission as part of the settlement. That would've been fun, fun, fun. ;^0