Urgent: Support journalist Sarah Olson
Sarah Olson, an independent journalist and radio producer (seen in the photo above interviewing war resister Pablo Paredes while on assignment for the Canadian Broadcasting Company), received a supoena in December to testify in the court-martial of 1rst Lt. Ehren Watada, the first commissioned officer to refuse deployment to Iraq. The supoena is to compel Olson to testify that Watada made statements against the war to her that the military has deemed conduct unbecoming an officer. This case has chilling repercussions for the integrity of journalism and free speech. Olson is in urgent need of support, please see below for details. In a statement explaining why she objects to testifying, Olson points out that,
“It is stunningly ironic that the Army seeks my testimony – the testimony of a journalist – in a case against free speech itself. What could be more hostile to the idea of a free press than a journalist participating in the suppression of newsworthy speech?”
“It seems clear that the U.S. Army is attempting to redefine the parameters of acceptable speech and to classify dissent as a punishable offense. Subpoenaing journalists in this case unequivocally sends the message that dissent is neither tolerated nor permitted. Utilize your constitutionally guaranteed speech rights and go to prison. What rational soldier would agree to speak with me or any other member of the media if jail was a likely result?
When the press cannot or does not reflect the vibrant and varied perspectives within our society, it is reduced to a simple transcriber of government press releases. The record of existing dissent is erased, and a dumbed-down, homogenized version of “The American Experienceâ€? is all that’s left in its place.”
There is now a website set up to cover Olson’s case where you can learn more and make donations to help defray her legal costs. Olson is also asking people to send letters to the commanding general at Ft. Lewis and to Robert Gates. The addresses are:
Lt. Gen. James Dubik
Commanding General
Fort Lewis and I Corps
Bldg 2025 Stop 1
Fort Lewis WA 98433Honorable Robert Gates
Secretary of Defense
1000 Defense Pentagon
Washington DC 20301
Fianlly, Olson is asking for signatures on the following statement:
We, the undersigned journalists, academics, artists
and citizens, object to the Army’s decision to
subpoena independent journalist and radio producer
Sarah Olson and Honolulu Star Bulletin reporter Greg
Kakesako, to testify in the court-martial of 1st Lt.
Ehren Watada, the first officer to publicly refuse to
deploy to Iraq. We are further disturbed by the Army’s
decision to add independent journalist Dahr Jamail and
videographer Sari Gelzer to the prosecution’s witness
list.It’s a journalist’s job to report the news, not to
participate in government prosecutions of political
speech. The press cannot function if it is used by the
government, and hauling a journalist into a military
court erodes the separation between government and
press. Turning reporters into the investigative arm of
the government subverts press freedoms and chills
dissenting speech in the United States. The press must
preserve its ability to cover all aspects of a debate,
not just the perspectives popular with the current
administration. We believe a journalist’s duty is to
the public and their right to know, not to the
government.In the name of the cornerstone values this nation
claims to uphold and for which the men and women in
the military are fighting, we ask that you end to your
insistence that journalists participate in the
court-martial of Lt. Watada. We need more information,
participation, and debate – inside and outside the
military – not less. As the LA Times argued in its
January 8th editorial: “It’s time for the Army to back
off.�
You can sign the statement by sending an email to Sarah Olson at solson75@yahoo.com indicating your support. Very important–do this TODAY, Sarah needs these letters by Jan. 19th!
Filed under: Uncategorized, Action Alerts
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