The Mirror

Sen. Rubio: ‘It’s Our Responsibility To Defend Press Freedom Globally’

Betsy Rothstein Gossip blogger
Font Size:

A Republican and Democratic senator actually got their sh%t together enough to pass a resolution that affects freedom of the press worldwide. The duo is Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) and Sen. Bob Casey (D-Pa.).

The stats are pretty bleak. According to the Committee to Protect Journalists, 211 journalists were jailed worldwide in 2013, the second worst year on record. And many more are missing.

The resolution condemns restrictions on freedom of the press around the globe and pushes for punishing perpetrators for attacks on journalists. Further explained in a release from Casey’s office, it also “calls on the President and Secretary of State to improve the means by which the U.S. government identifies, publicizes, and responds to threats against freedom of the press, and urges foreign governments to transparently investigate and bring to justice the perpetrators of attacks against journalists.”

“The Senate sent an important message today to those that seek to stifle the freedom of the press – the United States does not tolerate attacks against journalists and stands united against repressive governments,” said Casey in the statement. “I applaud my colleagues for coming together in support of journalists and freedom of the press worldwide.”

Rubio also applauded the passage of the resolution.

“Every day in all corners of the world, independent journalists are under attack by repressive governments that don’t want the world to know what goes on in their countries,” said Rubio. “We should never take for granted the press freedom we have in the United States. It’s our responsibility to defend press freedom globally and highlight the repressive actions that many independent journalists abroad are themselves forbidden from reporting on. I’m proud to have led this effort in the Senate to send a message that the U.S. stands with independent journalists being persecuted around the world.”