Court upholds free speech rights in favor of Texas journalist

Karah Rucker

A TEXAS COURT HAS RULED THAT A CITIZEN JOURNALIST CAN SUE A COUNTY SHEIFF… AFTER HE WAS EXCLUDED FROM A NEWS CONFERENCE WHILE TOLD HE WAS NOT WITH THE LOCAL MEDIA.

JUSTIN PULLIAM has an investigative YouTube channel called Corruption Report.

HIS SITE IS DESCRIBED AS “Confronting tyranny to protect our individual rights and improve the human condition.”

FROM JULY 20-21, PULLIAM WENT TO A PUBLIC PARK TO COVER A STATEMENT FROM FORT BEND COUNTY SHERIFF ERIC FAGAN AFTER HUMAN REMAINS WERE FOUND THERE.

That's when Sheriff Fagan approached Pulliam and told him to leave.

Where should we park… where there is a legal parking space… you can park there… pause… move on and start walking.

AFTER THIS INTERACTION, SHERIFF FAGAN told a DEPUTY to keep PULLIAM away from the scene and said he should arrest him if he did not comply.

You are not members of the media, so can you please stand down with us at the Sheriff's request? 2:072:38 You're more than happy to film here, if you just stay here, that would be great. I appreciate you. You're a joker, so I can be here. Ok, he won't tell me. This is the game that comes straight from the top people, straight from the top.

The court found that Pulliam's free speech rights were violated in the incident.

PULLIAM PROVIDED THIS STATEMENT TO STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS…

“This victory shows how important the First Amendment is to protecting independent reporters like me, who use social media to report on the ground and often critically about police.” “SHOOT THE MESSENGER IS NO LONGER AN OPTION WHEN YOU DON’T LIKE HOW YOU LOOK ONLINE.”

FOR SAN I AM…KARAH RUCKER.

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