Author: The Freedom Watch Staff

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China Broadcasts “Confession” of Chinese-American Blogger

"Chinese state television on Sunday broadcast a startling video of a famous blogger in handcuffs, renouncing his Web posts and saying how dangerous the Internet would be if left uncontrolled by the government. The 10-minute news report featuring Charles Xue — a Chinese American businessman and one of China’s most popular bloggers — was the latest step in what appears to be asystematic campaign to intimidate online opinion leaders against speaking too freely or critically of the government." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingChina Broadcasts “Confession” of Chinese-American Blogger

Barrett Brown Faces 105 Years in Jail

"Encountering Barrett Brown's story in passing, it is tempting to group him with other Anonymous associates who have popped up in the news for cutting pleas and changing sides. Brown's case, however, is a thing apart. Although he knew some of those involved in high-profile 'hacktivism,' he is no hacker. His situation is closer to the runaway prosecution that destroyed Aaron Swartz, the programmer-activist who committed suicide in the face of criminal charges similar to those now being leveled at Brown. But unlike Swartz, who illegally downloaded a large cache of academic articles, Brown never broke into a server; he never even leaked a document." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingBarrett Brown Faces 105 Years in Jail

This Man Can’t Say Why the Government Wants to Jail Him for a Century

"In the US government's campaign against journalists, Barrett Brown is one of the lesser-known victims. And now even less will be forthcoming about his story, as the Texas-based writer, satirist and Internet activist is under a federal court gag order, forbidden to talk about his case or the charges that could land him in prison for more than 100 years. Brown was arrested in Dallas a year ago, hit with a dozen charges of identity theft for pasting a link to the chat room of ProjectPM, a wiki research forum he founded in 2009. The link led to a huge cache of hacked documents posted to WikiLeaks that had been purloined from the intelligence contractor Stratfor Global Intelligence." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingThis Man Can’t Say Why the Government Wants to Jail Him for a Century

China’s beverage billionaire Zong Qinghou victim of knife attack

"Multi-billionaire Zong Qinghou, China’s second richest man, was attacked and injured by a would-be job applicant wielding a knife, official media said Wednesday. Zong, China’s richest man until he was dethroned last week, is chairman of the country’s leading beverage producer Wahaha Group. Forbes magazine estimates his personal wealth at $11 billion, second only to Wang Jianlin, head of conglomerate Wanda Group, on $14 billion. Zong started his business in 1987 on a tricycle selling soft drinks and ice cream and built Wahaha into one of the top 500 private firms in China, according to the company’s website." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingChina’s beverage billionaire Zong Qinghou victim of knife attack

Starbucks CEO: ‘Guns are not a part of the Starbucks experience’

"In an open letter released today, Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz said that Starbucks will now 'respectfully request' that gun owners not bring their guns into Starbucks, even in states where 'open' or 'concealed carry' is permitted. 'We’re not pro-gun or anti-gun,' he told Bloomberg Businessweek, but he wanted to stop events like Starbucks Appreciation Day, in which those legally permitted to carry firearms were encouraged to patronize Starbucks while brandishing firearms." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingStarbucks CEO: ‘Guns are not a part of the Starbucks experience’

Ex-cops get new trial in post-Katrina bridge shootings

"A federal judge tossed the convictions of five ex-New Orleans police officers accused of shooting an unarmed family and firing on others as they tried to flee the flooded city. District Judge Kurt D. Engelhardt issued a 129-page ruling that cited a lengthy list of 'egregious and inflammatory' comments made online by at least three Justice Department officials. One of the top federal prosecutors in the case questioned how the officers were issued badges in a comment posted on a newspaper website just minutes before jury selection began, according to the ruling. Prosecutors are forbidden under Justice Department policies from making public statements that could influence the outcome of a case." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingEx-cops get new trial in post-Katrina bridge shootings

Canadian Group Protests Missing Signs In Speed Camera Zones

"Wise Up Winnipeg members stood at the corner of Stafford Street and Warsaw on Friday warning drivers with bright yellow signs that read, 'Unsigned school zone ahead.' The group wants to bring attention to the city's refusal to act on a list of 203 locations where they say the signs do not comply with legal standards. So far, city officials are not commenting on the matter and have installed only three new warning signs since the group raised the issue last October. On Tuesday, video was posted of Winnipeg city employees pulling down a speed limit sign. The city is looking to further increase citations by reducing school zone speed limits from 50km/h (31 MPH) to 30km/h (19 MPH)." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingCanadian Group Protests Missing Signs In Speed Camera Zones

US farmers challenging Monsanto patent claims appeal to Supreme Court

"Seventy-three US farmers, seed companies, and public advocacy groups appealed their case against Monsanto Co. to the Supreme Court on Thursday. The case seeks to challenge Monsanto’s aggressive claims on patents of genetically-engineered seeds and aims to bar the chemical and biotech company from suing anyone whose field is contaminated by such seeds. Monsanto has in the past sued over 100 farmers for patent infringement and won cases against farmers who were found to have used seeds without paying the company royalties." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingUS farmers challenging Monsanto patent claims appeal to Supreme Court

Judge Bars Jewish Man from His Own Trial then Finds Him Guilty

"The Rutherford Institute has come to the defense of a Jewish man who was barred from participating in his own trial after a circuit court judge removed him from the courtroom for insisting on wearing a head covering in keeping with his Jewish beliefs. Stephen Orr, a resident of Chesapeake, Va., was tried in absentia and found guilty, after a Circuit Court judge denied his request to wear a hat, or 'kippah,' into the courtroom in keeping with a Jewish mandate that persons wear a head covering at all times. The judge allegedly based his denial on the fact that other Jewish litigants appear in court without a head covering." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingJudge Bars Jewish Man from His Own Trial then Finds Him Guilty

Cop fired 12 shots, hit unarmed man 10 times, Charlotte police say

"Jonathon Ferrell, a 24-year-old North Carolina man, suffered a severe late-night car crash. His car slipped into a ravine. He had to kick his way out the back windshield. He managed to get out of the car and go to a nearby home, where he knocked on the door repeatedly for help. When police arrived, he approached them -- and one shot him repeatedly, killing him on the spot. Now the officer is charged with manslaughter. Police say he had no cause to shoot Ferrell." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingCop fired 12 shots, hit unarmed man 10 times, Charlotte police say