October 4, 2006
(Sent to the 14 entities listed as cc on letter to Chester Nolen, Texas Press Association Re: Public Library censorship of The Cleburne Eagle News Greetings: As an individual member of the Texas Press Association, I am asking for your help and advice on stopping an action by the City of Cleburne which I think constitutes censorship of the press. The Cleburne Public Library normally displays the weekly The Cleburne Eagle News along with other newspapers on its periodicals racks. On or about Monday, October 2, 2006, the library pulled the Eagle off the rack and told customers it was no longer available. The first reason given by library staff was that the Eagle printed so many lies about the city and administration that the city council decided it should not be available at the library. On October 3, 2006, Harold Gentry and Teresa Blackwell separately asked why the Eagle was not on the rack. The answer to both was that the library had orders from higher up but they would not say who gave the order. On October 4, 2006, I told the library clerk I was doing a story for CleburnePolitics.com (our online news and commentary website) and asked why the Eagle was not on the rack. I was told that the city manager Chester Nolen ordered the Eagle removed so I should go talk to him. Note that Mrs. Blackwell, Mr. Gentry and I are all contributors to the Eagle. Our stories are based on responses to open records requests and are thoroughly researched and factual. The Cleburne Times-Review, a daily, remains on the rack. The publisher of the Eagle sends the paper free of charge each week to the library. I consider this to be blatant censorship of the press and discrimination against the Eagle as punishment for printing results of open records requests which embarrass the city and school administration. Any help or advice you can give will be greatly appreciated. Thank you for your consideration. Sincerely, Alden Nellis, Individual Member TPA |
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