THE CRIMINALIZATION OF JOURNALISM
The Sparrow Project FEB 24, 2014
[DALLAS, TX] The curious case of Barrett Brown —a freelance journalist and satirist, turned political prisoner— has captivated thousands in the lead-up to what many are calling a “show trial” slated to take place in Dallas, TX, later this year. In an open letter published this morning (and attached below), Icelandic MP, Birgitta Jonsdottir claims the charges against Brown are part of a larger ”unjust war on whistleblowers, journalists, and information activists.” Brown, who has been incarcerated since September 12, 2012, is facing three separate indictments carrying a sum of 17 federal charges, each related to his work with Project PM (a crowdsourced journalism initiative aimed at shedding light on private contractors in the intelligence industry.) Brown’s charges, should he be sentenced to them consecutively, have him facing 105 years in Federal prison.
At the core of these charges is an argument that Brown’s alleged conduct of linking…
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