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Help Me Choose a Nominee for the Hugh Hefner First Amendment Award
The Hugh M. Hefner First Amendment Awards were established in 1979 to honor individuals who have made significant contributions to protect the First Amendment rights of Americans. They are looking for nominees for this year’s awards, and I’d like to send them a name.Who should it be?
Nominees traditionally come from the fields of journalism, arts and entertainment, education, publishing, and law and government. They are honored at a reception at the Playboy Mansion, and receive $5,000 to continue their work. Readers here know some of the past awardees: Whistleblowers Thomas Drake, Morris Davis, Norman Lear, Michael Moore, Bill Maher — the whole list back to 1980 is here.
I suspect Edward Snowden and those connected to him as journalists and lawyers will already have a long line of people ready to nominate them. Any would be people who deserve the honor. But let’s put our heads together and see if we can come up with someone not so much in the public eye, someone working for our rights who could really use the attention that even being nominated will bring.
Ideas? Put them in the comments. If the person is not well-known, a link would be helpful.
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John Poole said...
1Tom Englehardt. But Peter you are at least in front of Cheney.
09/24/16 9:19 PM | Comment Link
John Poole said...
2Peter- you must be kidding about Hefner and his award.
What self respecting progressive would ever accept an award from Hefner let alone a weekend stay at the Playboy Mansion? There were some great cartoonists who were published in his girlie mag and many notable authors but we are in a new era where no one of any credibility wants Hefner’s approval.
09/24/16 9:25 PM | Comment Link
bloodypitchfork said...
3Glenn Greenwald.
Laura Poitras.
09/25/16 6:44 AM | Comment Link
bloodypitchfork said...
4John Poole said…
“…..but we are in a new era where no one of any credibility wants Hefner’s approval.”
yeah, and that’s why they would probably spit in my face for insulting them.
09/25/16 6:47 AM | Comment Link
chuck said...
5Jake Johnson @wordsofdissent
09/25/16 7:15 AM | Comment Link
chuck said...
6PVB, Sorry for no link. I have seen some of his stuff on Common Dreams (that Dem site that even has you on sometimes, and has banned me !)
09/25/16 7:27 AM | Comment Link
Rich Bauer said...
7http://www.nytimes-se.com/
The New York Times for showing US that free speech that can be bought ain’t worth anything.
09/25/16 8:28 AM | Comment Link
Bloozguy said...
8Amy Goodman
09/25/16 9:05 AM | Comment Link
Rich Bauer said...
9Pitchfork– the guy is an inspiration to us all who
have to live in this mad, mad, mad world.
http://iava.org/blogs/dod-reports-significant-increase-in-military-suicides/
In IAVA’s Member Survey, 47 percent of respondents know at least one Iraq or Afghanistan veteran who has attempted suicide, while 40 percent of respondents know someone who has died by suicide and a staggering 31 percent of respondents have thought about taking their own life.
09/25/16 9:30 AM | Comment Link
bloodypitchfork said...
10(that Dem site that even has you on sometimes, and has banned me !)
Naw…really? Whudda thunk. I wonder why?
Bloozguy said…
“Amy Goodman”
I’ll second that choice. North Dakota law enforcement issued an arrest warrant for her last week for “trespassing” when her report went viral, on the Dakota Access pipeline protest where corporate thugs sicked attack dogs on protesters and sprayed them with pepper spray.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OQnlkFfgQZI
I have no doubt she’ll kick their ass in court..like she did with the St. Paul Police department after being
arrested at the RNC in 2008, but got her comeuppance on the police to the tune of $100k and a promise to institute..”Constitutional rights” training. Ha.
GO AMY!!!
09/25/16 10:19 AM | Comment Link
b. traven said...
11Amy Goodman Consistently gives a voice to the silent oppressed here and in the world
09/25/16 1:50 PM | Comment Link
John Poole said...
12Pitch- I support your Amy Goodman suggestion as long as she wears an Elmer Fudd costume with shotgun and starts blasting the Playboy Bunnies who will obviously be there to celebrate!
09/25/16 1:56 PM | Comment Link
chuck said...
13“The New York Times”, I am puking. BDS
09/25/16 4:31 PM | Comment Link
John Poole said...
14Chuck- The NYTimes endorsement of Hillary explains their plutocracy fetish.
09/25/16 7:24 PM | Comment Link
Bruce said...
15Lee Camp & Co.
09/25/16 7:54 PM | Comment Link
GARY SMITH said...
16Shaneka Torres for standing up for those of us who are tired of the corporate tyranny. FREE SHANEKA!!!
http://www.mlive.com/news/grand-rapids/index.ssf/2015/04/prison_for_woman_who_fired_gun.html
09/28/16 2:48 AM | Comment Link