FeedMy First Public Statement as a Free Wolf (Delivered at 5:00PM in front of SF City Hall)
In his dissenting opinion in the case of US v Coldwell (1972), Justice William O. Douglas wrote these prescient words which are not only significant to my case, but also reflect the greater state of affairs in the United States today: “As the years pass, the power of government becomes more and more pervasive. It is a power to suffocate both people and causes. Those in power, whatever their politics, want only to perpetuate it. Now that the fences of the law and the tradition that protected the press are broken down, the people are the victims. The First Amendment, as I read it, was designed precisely to prevent that tragedy.”
Contrary to popular opinion, this legal entanglement which has held me in Federal Prision for the past eight months, has never been about a videotape nor is the investigation about the alleged attempted arson of a San Francisco police vehicle as the government claims. While it is true that I was held in custody for refusing to surrender the tape and that the justification for making a federal case out of this was the police car, things are not always as they appear. The reality is that this investigation is far more pervasive and perverse than a superficial examination will reveal.
When I was subpoenaed in February of last year, I was not only ordered to provide my unedited footage, but to also submit to testimony and examination before the secretive grand jury. Although I feel that my unpublished material should be shielded from government demands, it was the testimony which I found to be the more egregious assault on my right and ethics as both a journalist and a citizen.
As there was nothing of a sensitive or confidential nature on my video outtakes, I had no reason to withhold their publication once I had exhausted all my legal appeals. When that point arrived I had already spent three months behind bars. I was advised by my legal team that publishing the video would not lead to my release; instead it would indicate to the court that my imprisonment was having a coercive effect even though it was not.
This hypothesis was verified when one of my attorney’s inquired whether the Assistant US Attorney would accept the footage in lieu of my testimony, he was told that the video alone would not suffice and that the US Attorney would accept nothing less than my full compliance with the demands of the subpoena. Things change.
When the judge came to realize the support for my cause was growing and that I was unlikely to waver anytime soon, he ordered both parties to meet with a magistrate judge in the hopes we could reach a solution amenable to everyone. After two rather strenuous sessions of mediation, we at last came to an agreement that not only leaves my ethics intact but actively serves the role of a free press in our so-called free socieity.
In the words of Justice Douglas, “The press has a preferred position in our constitutional scheme, not to enable it to make money, not to set newsmen apart as a favored class, but to bring fulfillment to the public’s right to know”.
Josh, good to hear you are out.
There was a similiar case in China with a blogger named Hao Wu. His arrest caused a world wide outrage here in US.
You know what? When you were arrested 8 months ago, I sat at home not knowing this had happened to you because media was silent, and blogger community were too busy bashing China.
I hope your arrest had caused a world wide outrage in China.
Welcome home, Josh!
Yeah, all well and good… but you should go write a friggin’ book about this bad trip- and make some ca$h.
More seriously, the judge’s call adds definition to the legal meaning of the term “journalist” in the USA. Correct me if I”m wrong, but while you did sell some of your footage, I don’t think that was your original intent, nor were you employed by a newsgathering op at the time of your arrest. This ostensibly quashes any claim that a “journalist” entitled to protect sources must necessarily be a paid employee of a publisher or broadcaster- as some conservative wags have suggested.
Thanks for the letters while you were temporarily indisposed. Your record 226 day indisposition speaks volumes, both about your tenacity and the extra-constitutional fascism of the Bush regime.
Wonder if the judge in your case had his job threatened by Gonzo if he didn’t get a sufficiently destructive outcome for you…
Hey Josh,
I’ll have to write you back soon, or maybe I’ll e-mail you now! I’m so glad to have you back! I’m so happy that you are finally out. I hope that you have a great week. We all missed you oh so very much. *hugs*
I just got your letter in the mail yesterday. Thanks for writing back
glad u out, son!
[...] (4/3/07 Update: After having spent 226 days in court, Josh was freed today. Congrats to him for what he was willing to go through to defend our civil liberties… see the CNET article about his release with video, and check out Josh’s first public statement post.) [...]
not even the Chronicle calls Josh a journalist, funny.
Congratulations on finally securing your release! What an incredible abuse of power it was that kept you in jail so long…sad to see in this country.
@weez: I think you can count on this judge being a ‘loyal Bushie’, protecting the Motherland and all that. It makes me sick to think we elected this guy twice. Or, come to think of it, maybe we really didn’t.
Am I the only one here who thinks that this guy is full of sh*t?
Glad to hear you are a free man. It’s a sad state we are in at the moment. I’m hoping that your case helps more people realize how far down the abyss we have gone.
Keep up the good fight.
Josh,
the video is material in many ways, and you might be technically correct that the video is not valuable in the monetary sense.
The video is valuable if I was a prosecutor.
1. Unpermitted parade or gathering means that there is limited free speech for public safety.
2. The police warned numerous times
3. The anarchists then start dragging either publically owned stands into the streets causing a public hazard.
4. Then they do not follow the police directions
5. While there is little doubt the comments and threats by the federal and local officials were potentially criminal or at least overly agressive and needlesly violent, the conduct of the marhers was unlawful, and thus not true to a peaceful anarchist.
Your right not to testify is interesting and I favor that interpretation of the first amendment for policy reasons, so right on.
This video is valuable.
As a lesson for all parties involved.
Publius
Well said BIN, your eloquence is exceeded only by your intellect.
Welcome back to the outside world, Josh. A lot has changed in your absence…. perhaps you’ve kept up, though :p
Unfortunately, the old school press suddenly finding where they left their collective spine is not one of the things that changed while you were away.
Please continue to challenge them, and perhaps they may remember why they exist, at some point. One can only hope…
Well, well, well.
Sponging off the government for 226 days.
I always said that all you had to do was release the tape in its entirety and you’d be a free man. Took you 226 days to figure it out.
As Carlos Mencia would say, “DEE DEE DEE!”
Think you made a point?
You didn’t. Never saw your story in mainstream leftwinger mags like Counterpunch, Nation or Progressive. Only the sorriest extremist leftwing of all leftwing rags printed your story, and they didn’t tell the whole story, that in addition to a broken tail light was cop’s busted skull.
Even the radical “9th Circus” Court of appeals said you had no case.
Little prediction: You’ll be back. (In prison)
Scott
P.S. Thank you for finally doing the right thing and releasing the entire video.
Congratulations to Josh Wolf for keeping a clear head and for holding to his ethics under heavy pressure from this particularly rogue government. I hope that all anarchists will look to Josh’s ordeal and victory as a good way to behave as a public citizen. Josh, enjoy the fresh air, do a book tour, and don’t skip Philadelphia when you do.
In Solidarity, Bob Helms
Glad to see you out man. I was so excited when I heard the news. I think Amanda Congdon broke it on Twitter first. Can’t wait to see your first videoblog about it.
“BIN said,
on April 4th, 2007 at 6:32 am
Am I the only one here who thinks that this guy is full of sh*t?”
No BIN you are not. Kid gave in to the man anyway! Can’t blame him though, 226 of sponging wasn’t all it was cracked up to be.
“Scott said,
on April 4th, 2007 at 8:20 am
Think you made a point?
You didn’t. ”
I agree. what a looser: free from a state of confinement.
Hi Josh, Joe here.
I first of all wanted to congratulate you on your release. I still think you were a very brave man in standing up against the government. Even without watching the video footage, I knew that what happened to that police officer you had nothing to do with and that you were nowhere near when that incident took place.
This was never about whether or not you had video evidence, rather it was about the government abusing it’s power and trying to silence those that spoke out against oppression.
Ever since 9/11, the Bush administration has taken a totalitarian control of the country using lies to justify going to warn with an enemy we cannot see, killing innocent people, and protecting those and the countries that hide and protect those that attacked us that horrible day. This administration has shown nothing but contempt when Katrina hit and has screwed up in the years to come with a deficit that our grandchildren and their children will be stuck paying.
Continue speaking out my friend, you are one voice that has sent a powerful message to the sociopaths that are currently in this administration, and you are an inspiration to us all.
[...] In seinem ersten Statement nach seiner Entlassung weist er allerdings darauf hin, dass es nicht allein darum ging, dem Staat das Video auszuhändigen. Vielmehr sollte er gezwungen werden, vor Gericht als Zeuge auszusagen. Dagegen wehrte er sich. Schließlich handelte er den Kompromiss aus, das Video nach seiner Entlassung ungeschnitten online zu stellen und zwei Fragen des Gerichts zu beantworten. Beide beantwortete er (gekürzt, d.A.) mit “Nein.” [...]
couple of important points alot of people miss here.
1. Josh stated he is often a part of the group he filmed that day, just so happened that this day he had a video camera and no mask.
2. if he had captured police brutality he would have sold it to the highest bidder regardless of who else was in it and what they did.
this had nothing to do with journalism or journalists rights, just ask any journalist who understand shield laws and the knows the reality of journalism. this was a publicity stunt that really didnt get too much publicity outside the usual leftie mags.
the video actually hurts Josh’s career as its obvious he hasn’t taken the time to learn how to cover a scene appropriately.
the whole debacle hurts real progressives who are embarrassed to see someone who looks like Josh as representing them and their movement (nothing against how Josh looks but it plays into the Rights perception of the Left).
as for a book, I don’t really get it, its not as if this happened in Russia or Syria. has josh even left the bay area? maybe he can self publish something and sell it at the next rally, you know a little paperback book stapled together with a hand drawn illustration on the front cover. that would be nice $7.95 or something.
but really hows about all you supporters putting your energy into something productive, if you want to be journalists go to school, if you want to be a videoblogger learn how to use a camera, there are so many interesting stories out there that dont require such grandstanding, the waste of taxpayers money and, I am sure, many sleepless nights by concerned parents.
Thanks for having the courage to stand up for all of our rights.
You did the right thing, and the right thing–as you know–is neither easy, comfortable, or popular. I haven’t followed this whole thing, but I got that this wasn’t about you as much as about what this represents to the rapidly eroding rights of the American People.
Thank you.
Glad you’re out, ’cause now your 15 minutes are up…
I’m with BIN on this one. Wolf is full of s**t. Oh, and by the way, thanks again for trashing my city.
Way to go, Josh Wolf. Congratulations on your defense of our rights and on your freedom.
The haters commenting here are the most pathetic non-entities ever to feel a need to call attention to their lack of purpose. Citing the media’s lack of attention as vindication of their views (even though you have *their* attention). Calling these folks names probably isn’t the way to build solidarity, but I think we’re going to have to build solidarity without them anyway.
Congratulations on your release Josh! You are an inspiration for people to stand for their rights!
You’re a hero. Stay strong!
we walk heads down through these times, not aware of what institutions were set up before we arrived, and oft forgetting the heart of this republic. whence one person decides that freedom is more important then being free, those who have been clouded by the dissemination of information will lash out against those who find causation to fight the watchful eyes of this Echelon infested tyranny…with no knowledge of what freedom actually means. this story has been followed closely by those that would wish to revert to ACTUAL constitutionality…and ignored by those who have been wrapped in the choking blankets of the hegemony that exists therein. i am more then proud of the actions you have taken, the tolerance for the intolerable dethroning of your rights, and the courage to say no. there are free minds everywhere, but it is quite obvious from some of the rants read through to get this far that some would rather be subverted, would rather just believe, then question and strive for what their hands already unknowingly hold.
in peace.
lukas.
[...] Here is his first public statement as a free Wolf. Digg it [...]
Josh, your story has been under-reported in the mainstream media, which comes as a surprise to no one who understands how the system works. However, your story NEEDS to be spread as far and as wide as possible. If you haven’t already (and maybe you have, but if so, I haven’t seen it yet), would you consider making a video statement about your experience? Even if it’s reading what you have written above? A picture’s worth a thousand words, and the truth is that with sites like youtube, google video, myspace and digg, your story can spread to a much wider audience very quickly. And, sad to say, it can capture the market of those souls who don’t enjoy or don’t have the ability for reading. Keep up the good fight, we’re rooting for you.
bien hecho compañero… agree with influx. really an inspiration. also inspiring is to see a forum where diverse unfiltered opinions collide. here’s an issue, and here are the different points of view. that, my friends, is top notch journalism.
[...] (READ THE REST OF JOSH’S POST AND THE COMMENTS AFTER IT BY CLICKING HERE) [...]
It’s interesting how the right wingers love to heap pointless abuse on marginal figures like Josh and consistently apologize for whatever tactics are employed by those in power. Did these same writers fall over themselves to insult and denigrate Judith Miller when she went to prison? Somehow I doubt it.
Anyway, congrats Josh for sticking it out and for coming to a reasonable compromise. Thanks for sticking up for the critical role of the press in a democratic society.
Under reported? I had never heard of Josh before today when I read the story on Yahoo News, and saw links to the story from several major outlets while there. I since took the time to learn about the case and have been inspired. Surely more than one random person like me has been affected similarly by all of the press regarding Josh’s release. Youe efforts have had an impact. Carry on patriot.
Josh,
Great news yesterday that you finally were released. A couple of things that don’t make sense:
1. It seems that the so-called government could have reached this agreement months ago, and the timing is suspicious. Could it be because right now the Attorney General is about to lose his job and Bush and the neocons are running scared? Do you think they have told U.S. attorneys nationwide to back off from their destruction of the Constitution? Just a thought.
2. Why did you and your attorney agree to the term “the government is not precluded from serving him with another grand jury subpoena related to the events of July 8, 2005″. Doesn’t this give them the ability to start all over again with the same tactics?
Good on you, Josh Wolf. Congratulations on showing exceptional courage inside the Fed lockup. Your defense of our rights and first amendment freedoms is heavily appreciated. Don’t let your story drop. Take it everywhere!
The shit-for-brains haters commenting here are pathetic assholes who could not find two braincells to rub together. Calling them names is probably a waste of response space, but understand that all who read this about your treatment know that this nation has reached a new pathetic low. And we mean to change it!
comparing wolf to miller is laughable and only something….. well only something wolf would do himself. the quality of responses here is equal to the relevance of this whole story. pathetic. if he doesn’t get that book deal he wants so badly or a 20/20 special I am sure he’ll be right back in jail. laughable that one of these posters would think that the attorney general or the government even know this little twerp is in jail or what he’s in there for. oh well something for them to protest about…
Wolf is free excellent. we need more people like Josh out there showing how pathetic the left is, we just couldn’t pay for such great publicity. keep on going Josh, it would be great if you grew that goaty a little longer before you went to washington. and right before you chain yourself to the capital make sure you rip your baggy jeans. rock on dude, you are our star recruiter.
I read somewhere this offer was made a while back but refused because there was not enough attention in the media. sad really.
free josh groban!
Color me unimpressed. Two hundred plus days if a federal prison is NOTHING. Try 226 days at a place like Folsom or Quentin and then I’ll give you some props.
I’m not impressed with any of the protestors who had their faces covered. If you haven’t the guts … courage… to show your face. Stay the *F* at home!
I’m even less impressed with those protestors who resorted to criminal behavior. You diminish not only yourself but also your cause. Take a lesson from the likes of Gandhi or Martin Luther King. These men had courage, vision and maintained their integrity! The message they were trying to get across was not marred or diluted by violence or law breaking.
I look at all the young faces in the video and I’m struck with the fact that the movement needs to grow the *F* up!
SS
‘journalism is not a crime’ …. but pretending to be one should be Josh.
I think we should all protest for the release of Josh from his parents basement! who’s with me?
naw, how about a march against the use of wolf’s literary cliches?
Long live the fourth estate.
Being somewhat out of the loop of current affairs at the moment I only just heard about your stand. I just wanted to say thank-you for believing that what you were doing was right and having the guts to go through with it. It’s inspirational.
This type of shit SCARES THE CRAP OUT OF ME and I wonder how often it happens without our knowing. Im very proud of you for holding out Josh, that takes a lot out of a person and you deserve all the respect you are granted and even more than you are denied. If there is anything at all I can do to help in anyway please let me know. And again a million thank yous for showing them whose boss.. the people!
much respect
kristie
I am relieved that state finally realized it was wanting too much – that a meaningful compromise was reached. Please permit me to thank you for the direction of your choice, and your great patience in defending that choice.
Your story serves as a note of caution to anyone holding information – from activist to journalist to service provider, from doctor to librarian to bank – to consider whether they could be forced to provide material for “fishing expeditions” against their intent and implied or promised of confidentiality.
In the age when a potentially comprehensive surveillance society with frightening concentrations of power, is only a few social and technical barriers separated from us, holding the line against summary search and seizure of information is of importance.
I’m sorry to hear how much trouble they managed to brew for you. I am however, glad to year that you made it through in one piece.
So glad you’re finally out, Josh! Keep up the good work, and ignore the hateful comments here – they are made by highly bitter, twisted and miserable individuals.
Give my warm regards to your dad – he knows me best as Santhoshi.
I don’t like the mean comments but I can see where they are coming from. I do commend you for standing up for something you believe in and wonder if you would do it again and how you feel about your field. Keep in touch, I will keep you on my reader. –clau
Just another person looking for fame that never should have been aloud to waist precious band width on his radical bull shit oppinion.
You should have stayed in jail and saved us all the trouble of hearing your trivia b.s.
fk off asshole
Amazing. I never saw this on the prime time news.
Oh wait a minute! 
Thats right! They are “owned” by Bushy too! 
Josh, I never heard about your struggle until yesterday. I consider myself, as a journalism major, someone who searches for the news and I feel your struggle was hidden from me. For a political science class yesterday, we watched the PBS documentary “News War” and I was moved by everything you had been put through. When I came back to my room, I wanted to research your situation and I was very surprised to see a post on Yahoo! about your release. I can’t tell you how excited it makes me that you stood up for what you believed in and never waivered. Thank you for helping to show that some journalists still have integrity.
Welcome back. Congrats on your reinstated freedom. I completely support your position on a federal shield law. We have to be able to protect free speech in this country without fear of a police state.
Thank you so much.
Congratulations on your successful fight for democracy in a time when so many have surrendered their freedoms.
[...] Josh Wolf released after 226 days in prison He’s free. Finally. For more information check Wolf’s blog. [...]
samantha do us all a favor and read a book or two, yes that stuff on your computer screen comes on paper too, read about the journalists working in some place where it really makes a difference, not some rich kid living off his parents trying to get publicity for some bullshit blog. please don’t be so naive its a big bad world out there where there really are police states and people go missing for what they write. this guy is a sellout, he was offered this deal along time ago and chose to stay in jail. do the research.
the reason you didn’t see it on prime news is because its a bullshit story which no real journalist will touch, they are embarrassed that wolf calls himself a journalist when they spent years in college and internships developing their craft, wolf just so happened to have his fathers camera that day instead of his protestors mask.
It doesn’t matter what he calls himself. Shame on you that think that he should be obligated to tell the government anything. I thought that we were trying to move beyond such a “Nazi” way of thinking!
It should NEVER be “Freedom of speech – Just watch what you say”
The only effective way of maintaining our democracy is by keeping the Government in check. Keep our press free cause I WANNA KNOW.
It doesn’t matter what he calls himself. Shame on you that think that he should be obligated to tell the government anything. I thought that we were trying to move beyond such a “Nazi” way of thinking!
It should NEVER be “Freedom of speech – Just watch what you say”
The only effective way of maintaining our democracy is by keeping the Government in check. Keep our press free cause I WANT TO KNOW.
Don’t let the little people get to you (although I know that they won’t anyway). Congratulations on your release. You deserved it long before this.
I’m very inspired that you stuck to your principles the way that you did and I was actually shocked to see all the hateful comments on this site from conservatives – Until I learned that the Drudge Report linked your site. Keep your chin up. All those Drudge Trolls will forget you when they find the next link on Drudge to draw their surface, hateful existence away to another target. That bunch of hardline conservative Americans and their whining comments about civil rights activism are falling into the minority of America at a rapid pace. For the rest of us, what you did was a real inspiration. We will remember what you did for years to come and it has already made an impact on us.
but you know what? he has made the yahoo headline, which means this blog will get more notice than ever. Doens’t matter what you believe in, it is inspirational that you fought for what you believed.
That is crazy what they did to you. How was “freedom of speech” played out in all of this. Anyways, Im glad your out!
Glad your out! I wish everyone could stand up for what they believe in like you have done!
Activist? Anarchist? Oh Shit! Here come the feds. No, No, Sir, I’m a journalist! I swear! Nice try. Got clipped anyway! As for most of the rest of the posters here; you speak as if you are all Harvard grads when it comes to all the BIG words, but as intelligent as you would have everyone to believe that you are, you contradict yourselves with every other sentence. For example, free speech is just that. Free Speech. Withholding incriminating evidence is called Obstruction of Justice. That one has been around a lot longer than Mr. Wolf, and was created before he was even a thought. Freedom of the press is a different animal. So, Mr. Wolf needs to decide what it is that he desires to be. An activist/anarchist, or, a journalist. Being a journalist would though, require him to sell out, because that’s what journalists do. Sell stories. Mr. Wolf, brave? No. Brave is having the cannonballs to put on a uniform of any type and still stand up for what you believe every day. People in uniform have given there lives under both parties for the freedom that you so quickly take for granted. Laws are enacted to keep order. Anarchy brings disorder, and oh yeah, 226 days at Club Fed. Peace.
Scott
Josh,
You are just a coward with a camera. You want to hang out with idiots and participate 100% but take none of the responsibility.
Glad you got some jail time for your actions. You are NOT a journalist.
Interesting case. dispicable on our countries part…i just can’t believe this was not in the us media at alll. I read the untainted bbc and other honest news outlets who thankfully let me know what is really going on. I don’t know much about u or ur case except what I have come to read and learn today but I wish u much luck in the future u seem like a very strongwilled person…should b more people like u in higher authority.
Josh, you are a great man and I’m very glad that you’re out. Keep fighting the revolution.
Scott and Josh are ignorant, intolerant, and stupid. You ARE a journalist, and your first amendment rights were violated.
If YOU aren’t a journalist, then all the morons at CNN who, in the midst of a war, could talk about nothing but Anna Nichole Smith for weeks, are certainely not journalists and should not be allowed to call themselves such.
I would venture to say that you are one of the few actual journalists left. All the major networks are just machines for entertainment and propaganda nowadays.
Congradulations on your release. Keep fighting.
Peace.
Dude, I am just now hearing about your story. I am sorry you were in jail for so long bro. I know how much of a bummer it is to be pulled away from friends and family unwillingly for a long perdiod of time, seeing how I am in Iraq against my wishes. I know its not the same, but I feel for you man, What is wrong with this country right now? Im glad you are out, and didnt waiver on your beliefs. One of my best friends told me that “It all comes around in the end”. And its true, good things happen to people who are treated unfairly like yourself. Keep your head up man, and good job.
I Reply to “Scott”
“Scott,” the critic of Josh Wolf who has given his remarks just a few squares above mine, reminds me of the people I used t see coming to union meetings (where I was the speaker), only present to argue the company’s side. It would usually be some office worker or a middle management person, and as soon as the workers saw the person, they’d say to me (about four at a time): he/she is here for the boss –don’t trust them.
I consider “Scott” to be a moral slob. I view Josh Wolf as an anarchist and a gentleman.
Sincerely,
Bob Helms
if your idea of a gentleman is to destroy other peoples property under the guise of a mask, people who work for a living then this country is in a sadder state of affairs than I thought. wolf admits to being part of that group, just so happened this day he had a camera. wolf is everything thats wrong with America, a rich, priviliged, coward who deluded himself (and others) from the pointless community college classes he took. a sad day for america when this is our hero. if he had been black or latino it woud’ve been a different story.
Re: “other peoples property” – selsa
The average working person in the U.S. does not own the property that activists like Wolf are calling into question. Yours is a right-wing (corporate tool) rhetorical ploy to obscure the issue and absolve the elite, parasitic power you serve, apologize for, and obey.
actually Adam I am a liberal and if you are too stupid not to read ALL the facts of this case then you can fuck off. wolf and his protesting crew destroyed newspaper containers that were part of someones business, not the government you moron. when are you guys going to get that this kind of behaviour only hurts the left. the people get the government they deserve. I am assuming you got your quote from the anarchists hand book. you are stupid, ignorant and as much of a coward as wolf. everything with you guys is some corprorate or government conspiracy, but let me ask you this when you get sick who are you going to turn to? when your house catches on fire who are you going to turn to. you and your stupid anarchy friends are pathetic. get real, get a job and contribute to the community around you instead of breaking it.
Blog comment logs are not representative samples of reality. Keep that in mind when you read the assheads’ comments.
What you did was brave and I hope it only gets wider and wider coverage. America is not the land of the free, and it’s time people woke up to that.
Hey Bob,
Awww! Did I touch a nerve? I see you used to go to and speak at union meetings. What happened? Did the left that organized your union see through your b.s. and run you out for the coward that you really are. You don’t know me. So don’t pretend that one post on this blog gives you any real insight as to who I am or who I represent. You have no idea what morals are. Much less, what being an anarchist or a gentlemen is all about. Bag on someone else that might lay down for you. When I fight, I fight to the death sunshine.
Scott
[...] Did Josh win? It certainly felt great to hear Josh’s friend and press advocate Julian Davis say [MP3] that he threw a “knockout punch” as Josh approached the podium at his release press conference [MP3] this week. And while Wolf’s speech suggested it wasn’t ever about the tape — he explained to me later that he had planned to release the tape upon his own, regardless — I’m not so sure. [...]
Criminals who protect criminals and try to hide behind the First Amendment which wasn’t even meant to shield their actions. The moniker “insurgent” is fitting.
good point, if you guys feel comfortable getting your news from someone who:
- writes under the name insurgent
- before he was put in jail didn’t even refer to himself as a journalist but an anarchist
- admits to being part of the protest group he was documenting (and perhaps responsible for past destruction of property too)
- has no formal training as a journalist
- has not interned for a bonafide news service
- has not published clips as a journalist (unless you count ‘Anarchist Weekly’ or ‘The Month in BeatNik’ or ‘The Che Quarterly’)
- has no press credentials
- is not referred to as a journalist by his peers
- uses other peoples quotes and never references them
- hasn’t written or researched anything original
- couldn’t even come up with an original name for his blog
- depends on his parents for financial support (better than corporate sponsorship I guess)
- eventually sold out his sources
… but apart from this I don’t see why you wouldn’t trust this guy for your news. as a former poster wrote, no wonder we don’t trust our media anymore.
Thank you, Josh.
Fuck you , Josh.
veryy veryy nice informations…thank you very much. mr suma…
Fucking Fags!
I find it interesting from a psychological, sociological perspective that the people who don’t agree with Josh feel the need to resort to angry and often irrational rhetoric and cursing. I see this here and I see it on my home town blog. I’m not writing a thesis, so I’ll just put it out as an observation.
what upsets me about this story is that I do have friends who are journalists and some of them have been killed for their brave work. you have someone like Josh who cloaks himself in the profession as a defense and because of the media in this country he is able to manipulate the facts of the story for his own publicity. had he just been honest about who he was, there is nothing wrong with being a videoblogger with ideals, I think it would have been an interesting story in itself. but its somewhat offensive that Josh, who was part of the group who destroyed the property, compares himself to professionals who have sacrificed for their beliefs.
I find his contention to be a journalist just as hypocritical as Nixon stating that “I am not a criminal”. To stand in the street and act as a recorder for “Anarchist” temper tantrums is ridiculous. To destroy the property of hardworking individuals for no apparent reason other than you happen to be, let me see, immature and painfully pathetic is incomprehensible to me. You and your little anarchist buddies want to fight and destroy, come stand in front of me and my friends. Oh, and don’t wear a mask you twit. I have spent more time on the frontlines than all of you pansy “anarchists” and if you show up in my town with your little bandana’s on, I will show you what “anarchy” is all about. Then when you are done you can run back to mom and dad and cry that someone showed you what protesting is all about. I didn’t spend my time serving my country to have a bunch of bored little punks destroy what I have worked for.
[...] Wolf Freed! Jump to Comments My First Public Statement as a Free Wolf (Delivered at 5:00PM in front of SF CityHall) [...]
Wow. These right wingers sure are angry. I guess I would be too if my president and his policies were complete failures and the general mood of the country was turning against me and my ridiculous ideals. I just watched The US vs. John Lennon last night and was reminded of how far the conservatives went to supress free speech and to silence and eliminate those that opposed their war and their policies. They talked about how unpatriotic the protestors were, how they could leave if they didn’t like it etc. etc. It’s all very reminiscent of what we’re seeing and hearing today. Point being, history casts its light on the leaders and right wingers of that era in a very poor manner, and those with similar ideologies today will be doomed to that same fate.
funny how they are still in power though, makes you wonder about the strength and intelligence of the left and if wolf is the best you can do all seems very clear.
[...] Seit gut sechs Tagen ist der US-amerikanische Videoblogger Josh Wolf nach 224 Tagen in Beugehaft wieder in Freiheit. Die Massenmedien haben den Fall, der so gar nicht zum Image eines Landes passt, das andere Länder mit blutigen Kriegen von Grundrechten, Meinungsfreiheit und Demokratie überzeugen will, so gut es ging ignoriert. Dabei ist der Fall USA gegen Josh Wolf von enormer Bedeutung für Demokratie und Grundrechte in der ganzen Welt. [...]
[...] Josh Wolf, el bloguero encarcelado en Agosto de 2006, por negarse a entregar a un juez federal de los EEUU un vídeo ciudadano de disturbios callejeros ha sido puesto en libertad tras llegar a un acuerdo con el fiscal (más antecedentes del caso aquí). En sus primeras declaraciones públicas, Wolf ha desvelado nuevos detalles del proceso: “al contrario de lo que la opinión pública conoce, este embrollo legal no se gira en torno a una cinta de vídeo (…) las cosas no siempre son lo que parecen. La realidad de esta investigación es mucho más profunda y perversa de lo que aparenta”. [...]
I think on this thread I will take a step back from the mud slinging.
Beyond all of the hatred there have been a few good points from the “haters”…. One is about the actions of the anarchists.
First it is presumption to judge without truly knowing everything that happened that day.
People on either side that are only CRITICAL against the other are loosing an opportunity to learn.
The police did not act in a fully legal or professional manner, and the anarchists did not either.
Violence was MUTUAL that day! Who “started” it I am not sure.
The destruction of property by the anarchists, in my opinion if not done as a tactic of self-defense is not only wrong but a bad tactic. The police declaring something an illegal demonstration and demanding they disperse, and the will to use VIOLENCE against UN-sanctioned speech is reprehensible and unconstitutional.
Mistakes were made on BOTH sides IMHO, but that does not change the fact that Josh had a constitutional right to his footage. With or without a “press pass”…. Journalist, or not a journalist. The FOURTH amendment to the constitution was ignored in this case.
The FACT that Josh captured footage and tried to INFORM the public of what he witnessed makes him fit the very definition of JOURNALIST.
The fact that Josh chooses to associate with a group of individuals does not have ANY bearing on his claim to being a journalist!
If a Republicrat journalist covers a Republicrat convention…. he or she can still be considered a journalist… why would anarchists loose other titles by stating they are an anarchist?
Republicrats cover their own events and anarchists can do the same.
The constitution never said it would not protect a journalist with a bias.
Questions on how Josh might cover a demonstration he agrees with objectively are legit (I am not saying he would or wouldn’t) but to use his “party” association as part of an argument stating he is not a journalist is ridiculous.
A journalist is not defined by where they went to school, or IF they went, they are not defined by who they work for, or for how much, they are not defined by the GOVERNMENT.
A journalist COVERS NEWS…. you don’t have to like them or how they do it… you don’t have to like what they choose to cover of what they ignore… If you think you are brave and they are not.
Josh was brave to film the cop choking that protester, and he was brave to do time for what he believes in.
Agree with him or not, it is dishonest to try to pretend he was not or is not a brave man.
Computer warriors throwing threats around are worthless.
Josh has “put his money where his mouth is” and to claim that one must wear a uniform to be brave, or even that putting one on makes someone brave is superficial.
There were a lot of brave people in the streets that day/night …. “hiding behind masks”… or … “hiding behind the badge”….
It is easy to judge, even easier when we don’t know these peoples stories (police and anarchists) enough to understand why they do what they do.
I will state unapologetically that there were “good people” and “bad people” on both sides that night… From what I KNOW of Josh Wolfs story.. he is one of the GOOD ones.
Josh, you have a lot of heart and an intellect to back it.
I look forward to standing with you in the work ahead needed to change the direction our nation is going in.
Peace
Josh’s lawyer, Martin Garbus, is mistaken in claiming that Josh’s ordeal is all about Bush going after people who are against him and his war. I’ve read this quote attributed to Mr. Garbus in more than few articles on this whole thing.
There have been many anti-war demonstrations in the U.S. since Bush invaded Afghanistan and Iraq whose numbers have outshone this particular protest of a hundred people or so by the thousands. Why would the capitalist state go after this relatively minute demonstration like they did?
THE REASON: The demonstration in question was about the G8 Summit – i.e. capitalist globalization. One of the top 3 reasons for the capitalist state’s 9-11 false flag operation and its subsequent “War on Terror” (besides forking over billions in public tax money to hungry corporate parasites and securing oil resources for guaranteed world hegemony) was to diffuse and distract the growing anti-globalization sentiment which produced such a significant event in Seattle, 1999.
THE VERDICT: The capitalist state wants to know who is still so focused on the over arching dirty dead of imperialist globalization rather than marching in line at the designated A.N.S.W.E.R. anti war rallies (not to say that protesting the war is misguided, but what happened to the massive anti-globalization movement after 9-11?).
Keep up the good work Josh! Unfortunately it won’t do any good but it sure makes many feel better throughout the process. At least you’ve proven that some sacrifices are still worthwhile on some levels!
you can fuck off you are stupid, ignorant its a bullshit stupid anarchy friends are pathetic get a job and contribute pointless everything thats wrong with America stupider who deluded himself (and others) you can fuck off you are too stupid newspaper containers the anarchists hand book his protestors mask everything thats wrong with America you are stupid, ignorant just so happened this day he had some corporate or government camera when you get sick who are you going to turn to if you are too stupid you can fuck off everything with you guys is some corporate or government newspaper containers who are you going to turn to? who are you going to turn to? who are you going to turn to? your fathers camera you are too stupid your stupid anarchy friends are pathetic you are stupid destroyed stupid, ignorant and as much of a coward I am a liberal is everything thats wrong with America stupid ALL the facts stupid conspiracy under the guise of a mask the people get the corporate or government conspiracy than you can fuck off you are stupid, ignorant other peoples property you can fuck off they are embarrassed that you are stupid, ignorant to have his fathers community college instead of bullshit get a job this kind of behavior only hurts the stupid, ignorant camera get a job you are too stupid not to read you can fuck off who are you going to turn to? who are you going to turn to? who are you going to turn to? fuck off everything thats wrong with America who are you going to turn to? who are you going to turn to? who are you going to turn to? fuck off
Selsa, what was that? A conglomeration of phrases from other comments?
different selsa. I usually only use profanity when needed:grin:
The anarchists at the protest at issue broke out the windows of local businesses, drug newspaper stands into the streets, struck a police officer in the head and fractured his skull, all in a diverse working-class neighborhood of San Francisco. There are no confidential sources involved in Wolf’s case. Should all journalists withhold evidence and protect individuals perpetrating criminal activity? If the windows of my home or business were being broken out, I would hope and expect that the police would work to restore some order.
I don’t believe Josh Wolf is a journalist, and neither did the 9th Circuit nor several journalists.
I think Debra Saunders has a good point: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2007/02/27/EDGRJN79VM1.DTL
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[...] at 5:00PM in front of SF City Hall ‘ … &8230 Here is his first public statement as a free Wolf.http://www.joshwolf.net/blog/?p=325How A Published Author Can Become A Paid Public SpeakerHow A Published Author Can Become A Paid [...]
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