A year ago, Josh Fox was attending the Academy Awards with a nomination in the documentary devision. Today, February 1, 2012 he was in cuffs on Capitol Hill. He had tried to get his crews paperwork approved for video taping. He has, after all, brought crews to video tape hearings all across the country for three and one half years. This is also an “open hearing” – nothing confidential or personal about it. Thanks to Politico for the article and photo. According to Josh Fox, he has been blacklisted by the oil and gas industry for opposing fracking – and of course those who accept money from the oil and gas industry.
There is, however, a little thing called freedom of the press and the first amendment. According to the Huff Post, the arrest was at the direct request of certain House Republicans, and despite proper requests for credentialing. For video of the arrest, a time line, and Fox’s statement, kudos to Huff Post here: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/02/01/house-republicans-order-j_n_1246971.html
My take? This deserves to be publicized, talked about – and is yet one more example of ignorance about the First Amendment that should lead the 9% approval rating of congress to drop further, it did for me. John Boehner, what transparency?
Welcome to GOP America. Goodbye, free speech. Goodbye, free press.
The image of a videographer being led away in handcuffs needs to be front and center in newscasts and papers tonight and tomorrow.
Free to do what it wants. You’re free to do its bidding.