Edward Snowden Wants to Return to the U.S.

At a news conference on Tuesday, Edward Snowden's lawyer stated that he was ready to return to the U.S., but only under the guarantee of a legal and impartial trial. Snowden has been in Russia since 2013, when he fled to the country from Hong Kong. After his temporary asylum expired in August, the Russian government granted him a three-year residence permit.

A 2013 letter from Attorney General Eric Holder promised that Snowden would not face the death penalty upon returning to the U.S. His lawyer, however, wants assurance of a fair trial as well. If Snowden does indeed return to the U.S., he will face charges under the Espionage Act.

This is not the first time that Snowden has stated he wants to return home. In fact, he insists his actions were done in the interest of serving his country. For the full story, visit POLITICO. 


What do you think? Was Snowden truly trying to speak out against violations of the Constitution? Should he be granted clemency?

Attack in Copenhagen

Lars Vilks

Earlier this month, a gunman stormed a cafe in Copenhagen, Denmark where Swedish cartoonist Lars Vilks was attending a free speech forum. The man began firing from an automatic weapon and Vilks's bodyguards (who always travel with him) took him into a back room until the danger passed.

Vilks was uninjured, but a 55-year-old man was killed and three others wounded. The man fled, and hours later fired shots at officers at a Copenhagen synagogue. The officers were wounded and a security guard was killed. Later that day, police tracked down the man and killed him.

Vilks has survived two previous attempts on his life after being placed on a terrorist hit list. His cartoons are offensive, and meant to elicit a reaction. He believes that it should be possible to insult all religions in a democratic way.

What do you think? Is it okay to deliberately create cartoons to offend? Does having the right to freedom of the press mean that we should use that privilege to deliberately create images to offend?

For more details on this story, visit CNN.

A New Plan to Protect Journalists

Major news organizations are joining forces to confront a rising tide of abductions and murders of freelance reporters. Will it save lives? Global Post’s Charles Sennott with an exclusive announcement.

Last year 61 journalists were killed, including James Foley, the journalist that was beheaded by ISIS. In 2015, 13 journalists have already been killed and 164 imprisoned. It is crucial that those who put their lives on the line to report truth are protected.

Will this training be enough?

James Foley: American Journalist
10/18/1973 - 08/19/2014

Reporters Without Borders 2015

Reporters Without Borders has published their 2015 World Press Freedom Index stats and the United States has dropped another three levels to #49. We have some real issues to deal with in our very own backyard.

Here is what Reporters Without Borders had to say about our country:

"In the United States, 2014 was marked by judicial harassment of New York times Investigative reporter James Risen in connection with the trial of Jeffrey Sterling, a former CIA officer charged under the Espionage Act with given him classified information, US journalist are still not protected by a federal shield law that would guarantee their right not to name their sources or reveal other confidential information about their work. Meanwhile, at least 15 journalist were arbitrarily arrested during clashes between police and demonstrators protesting against black teenager Michael Brown's fatal shooting by a white police officer in Ferguson, Missouri."

Lets get this message out in front of people. It is important to let our government know we will no longer tolerate them imposing on our journalists. It has become apparent that journalists put their freedom at risk when they print information that the government deems classified.

Please do your part and share this with your friends. Thanks.