Associated Press Takes White House to Court

Photo courtesy: Bill Chizek/Canva

The Associated Press is fighting back against Donald Trump's attempts to curtail the free press. Last week, a judge in the District of Columbia heard arguments on whether the government can bar AP journalists from covering presidential events.

This stems from the decision made by The White House in February to bar the AP from covering Presidential events, because they refused to comply with Trump's authoritarian demand to call the Gulf of Mexico by his preferred name 'Gulf of America'.

"For anyone who thinks the Associated Press’s lawsuit against Donald Trump’s White House is about the name of a body of water, think bigger" said AP executive director Julie Pace.

News organizations, journalists and citizens around the world have rallied behind the Associated Press in their quest for press freedom. As Pace noted: "The ability to comment on politics and consume news created without interference and intimidation by the Government is central to American democracy."

Last month, Media Action Plan joined the global solidarity call from the International Federation of Journalists, in support of media workers who face attacks on their rights. This call came in response to the relentless and increasing attacks from the Trump administration and their supporters on journalists across the globe. Media Action Plan also sponsors the Canada Press Freedom Project, that reports on press freedom violations here in Canada.