Letter from Bob Fitch, Renowned Civil Rights Photographer, to Santa Cruz DA: Dismiss All Charges

Published on March 28, 2012 in Media, Police

From: Bob Fitch
Date: March 28, 2012
To: dao@co.santa-cruz.ca.us
Cc: Sam Farr, Luis Alejo, Don Lane, Katherine Beiers, Tony Madrigal

Mr. Lee – regarding prosecution of Bradley Allen for documenting an Occupy event —

I have been a globally published photojournalist for 50 years, on some occasions on assignment from conventional media like LIFE, LOOK, POST, and many times on assignment for “alternative” media like MOTIVE, RAMPARTS, WIN, MALCRIADO, NATIONAL CATHOLIC REPORTER, YOUTH, and INDY MEDIA, etc.

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Chris Burnett Interviews Bradley Stuart Allen on KPFK’s Indymedia On Air

Published on March 28, 2012 in Audio, Media, Police

Indymedia On Air features voices from the global Indymedia.org network.

On the show for March 26th, Chris Burnett of the Los Angeles Independent Media Center and co-host of Indymedia On Air, interviews Santa Cruz Indymedia photojournalist Bradley Stuart Allen, who’s facing two felonies and two misdemeanors, including a felony conspiracy, for publishing photos of an Occupy demonstration.

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Davey D Interviews Bradley Stuart Allen on KPFA’s Hard Knock Radio

Published on March 28, 2012 in Audio, Media, Police

Hard Knock Radio is 94.1 FM KPFA’s daily drivetime Hip Hop Talk Show. It features hosts Davey D and Anita Johnson who hit the air everyday at 4pm offering news, views, breaks, and beats.

On the show for March 26th, Davey D speaks with Indybay reporter Bradley Stuart Allen, who’s looking at conspiracy charges over his coverage of the Occupy movement.

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Letter from Sherry Conable to Santa Cruz DA: Dismiss Charges – Bradley Stuart Allen

Published on March 27, 2012 in Media, Police

From: Sherry Conable
Date: March 27, 2012
To: dao@co.santa-cruz.ca.us
Cc: Sherry Conable
Subject: Dismiss Charges – Bradley Stuart Allen

Bob Lee
District Attorney
County of Santa Cruz, CA

Dear Sir:

It is very disturbing to me that you are choosing to prosecute Bradley Stuart Allen in relation to the occupation of the vacant bank building at 75 River Street in November of 2011.

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Journalism Groups Protest Prosecution of Photojournalist

Published on March 27, 2012 in Media, Police

by Mickey Osterreicher — March 27, 2012
National Press Photographers Association

Today the Northern California Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists sent a letter to the Santa Cruz DA stating they are “deeply concerned by your office’s decision to prosecute Bradley Stuart Allen, a longtime San Francisco Bay Area Independent Media Center (Indybay) contributor, as well as by assertions from your office that: (1) a reporter may be prosecuted for conspiracy simply by providing coverage of a newsworthy event and (2) Indybay is not a bona fide news organization.” Mr. Allen was charged with felony conspiracy along with vandalism and trespassing for his coverage of an “Occupy” demonstration late last year.

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Society of Professional Journalists letter to Santa Cruz DA in support of Indybay reporter Bradley Stuart Allen

Published on March 27, 2012 in Media, Police

Bob Lee, Santa Cruz County District Attorney
701 Ocean Street, Room 200
Santa Cruz, CA 95060

By First Class Mail

Dear Mr. Lee:

We are deeply concerned by your office’s decision to prosecute Bradley Stuart Allen, a longtime San Francisco Bay Area Independent Media Center (“Indybay”) contributor, as well as by assertions from your office that: (1) a reporter may be prosecuted for conspiracy simply by providing coverage of a newsworthy event and (2) Indybay is not a bona fide news organization.

SPJ is especially disturbed that your office is prosecuting Allen for conspiracy on the grounds that by covering the occupation, he was acting in concert with the protesters. Your theory is a dangerous threat to the freedom of the press. The information available to us indicates that there is no evidence Allen acted in concert with the protesters; he was merely reporting on their activities. The imposition of criminal conspiracy liability on journalists based solely on their reporting of criminal activities would chill the very acts of news gathering and dissemination that the First Amendment was designed to protect.[1]

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