@Jinjirrie@mastodon.socialThe fascist #Trumpolini admin kicks out AP from the White House. Free press in the US? not any more. https://actionnetwork.org/letters/white-house-reinstate-the-associated-press #USFascism
actionnetwork.orgProtect Freedom of Press. Demand the White House Reinstate The Associated Press Now. One of the very first executive orders signed by President Donald Trump attempts to rename the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America.
But under international law, the American government doesn’t have the authority to change the name of the entire Gulf worldwide — and most countries, including Mexico and Cuba, aren’t accepting the name change.
Likewise, noting that the area has carried the name the Gulf of Mexico for more than 400 years, The Associated Press decided not to change the name in their reporting.
In retaliation, the Trump administration has barred the AP’s reporters from the White House press pool and events.
This is an unacceptable attack on freedom of the press, in violation of the First Amendment.
The AP has been a member of the White House press pool since it was founded in 1846. Having earned the honor of 59 Pulitzer Prizes, the AP is respected for its journalism with a worldwide reach of over 4 billion people per day.
The First Amendment guarantees freedom of the press and the right to free speech. The Fifth Amendment grants due process, and the AP was not given a formal opportunity to challenge the ban before it was implemented.
The AP has sued to regain access, arguing that the administration’s goal is to coerce journalists to use “only government-approved language” in reporting.
The administration doesn’t have to wait until the court orders them to act, but they won’t change course unless they hear from the American people.
Click ‘START WRITING’ to sign and send a direct message to White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt now.