U.S. Senate adopts resolution backing the free press

U.S. Senate adopts resolution backing the free press

Reuters

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Senate on August 16, 2018 unanimously adopted a resolution affirming support for a free press and declaring that “the press is not the enemy of the people.”

The non-binding resolution approved by voice vote was a rebuke to President Donald Trump who for more than 18 months has frequently called reporters “the enemy of the people.”

The vote comes after more than 300 hundred U.S. newspapers on Thursday launched a coordinated defense of press freedom and a rebuke of President Donald Trump for denouncing some media organizations as enemies of the American people.

Trump has frequently criticized journalists and described news reports that contradict his opinion or policy positions as fake news.

He lashed out again on Thursday, tweeting “THE FAKE NEWS MEDIA IS THE OPPOSITION PARTY. It is very bad for our Great Country….BUT WE ARE WINNING!”

Sponsor: Sen. Schatz, Brian [D-HI] (Introduced 08/16/2018)
S.Res.607

Cosponsor
Sen. Schumer, Charles E. [D-NY] 08/16/2018
Sen. Blumenthal, Richard [D-CT] 08/16/2018

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A Free Press Needs You
By The Editorial Board of The New York Times

More than 300 newspapers join Globe effort on freedom of the press editorials

The Boston Globe

More than 300 news publications across the United States have committed to a Boston Globe-coordinated effort to run editorials Thursday promoting the freedom of the press, in light of President Trump’s frequent attacks on the media.

Including: The New York Times, The Dallas Morning News, The Denver Post, The Philadelphia Inquirer, and the Chicago Sun-Times.
https://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2018/08/14/newspapers-join-globe-effort-freedom-press-editorials/yvvZ0yepu8j1lJ3G3qYbSJ/story.html

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President Trump, we’re not ‘enemies of the people.’ End your war on the free press
BY MCCLATCHY OPINION STAFF
August 15, 2018
https://www.charlotteobserver.com/opinion/editorials/article216733295.html

Newsrooms join to criticize Trump’s attacks, then he responds with another one
Associated Press
August 16, 2018
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/ct-newspaper-editorials-trump-20180816-story.html