Judge William Alsup
11th Floor, Federal Building
450 Golden Gate Avenue, Box 36055
San Francisco, California 94102
Dear Judge Alsup:
I was disappointed to read about the rough treatment that freelance journalist Josh Wolf encountered in your courtroom. He should not be required to turn over tapes that he made of a burning police car at a demonstration in San Francisco. As Americans’ civil liberties are coming under fire daily, and activists are demonized and labeled as terrorists, it is important not to set precedent that could put journalists’ rights in jeopardy.
I find the claim that burning a city police car is a federal crime to be quite a stretch. I have nothing but sympathy for Mr. Wolf’s position, and I perceive it as addition of insult to injury for you to deny Mr. Wolf a ten day stay while his request to overturn the contempt charge is processed. As a citizen of California and Bay Area resident, I urge you to release Mr. Wolf and dismiss his case.
Truly,
Liz Mann
