Feinstein, Pelosi, Ma abstain on DCCC Wolf resolution

Journalist Josh Wolf remains in federal prison following U.S. District Judge William Alsup's order that Wolf be detained. Wolf was ordered jailed August 1, 2006 by Alsup for refusing to turn over videotape of a San Francisco G-8 demonstration turned melee in 2005 to a federal grand jury.
Photo(s) by Luke Thomas

By Richard Knee

March 1, 2007

A resolution backing wrongfully imprisoned journalist Josh Wolf and urging enactment of a federal shield law received near-unanimous approval Wednesday night from the San Francisco Democratic County Central Committee.

None of the delegates opposed the resolution, though proxies for Senator Dianne Feinstein, Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Assemblymember Fiona Ma abstained from voting on the resolution.

Text of Resolution:

"WHEREAS Josh Wolf is an independent journalist in the City and County of San Francisco who has become the longest jailed journalist for contempt in United States History and whose incarceration causes great damage to the First Amendment and to freedom of the press in the United States;

"AND WHEREAS 31 states including California have shield laws upholding the rights of journalists to protect the secrecy of their sources and unpublished information;

"AND WHEREAS Josh Wolf has shown uncommon valor in his principled defense of First Amendment rights, proving through his steadfast commitment that he will not be coerced, and for such actions has been awarded the highest honors of the Society of Professional Journalists;

"THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the San Francisco Democratic Party urges the US Attorney to cease its prosecution of Josh Wolf, requests his immediate release from rison, and urges Attorney General Alberto Gonzales to rescind the subpoena with which he was served;

"AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the San Francisco Democratic Party urges San Francisco's Congressional delegation to support the passage of an inclusive and robust Federal Shield Law that protects independent journalists and does not contain significant loopholes.

"Submitted by Robert Haaland, Michael Goldstein, Rafael Mandelman, David Campos, and Jane Morrison.

"Copies of the resolution shall be sent to the regional US Attorney, Attorney General Alberto Gonzales, Speaker Nancy Pelosi, and Senators Boxer and Feinstein."

A Robert Haaland-authored amendment to include online journalists in any shield-law legislation was accepted.

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