The 2016 NDAA becomes law, blacklisted “fake news” sites now subject to treason investigations.
To: ACLU
Subject: We are scared sh*tless
In the past, you have represented me in Free Speech issues involving Occupy.
Yesterday, following pressure from the corporate media, legislation was quietly passed under the 2016 NDAA (National Defense Authorization Act) authorizing the government to investigate and crackdown on those named in these blacklists for treason with no coverage by the corporate media.
I apparently have been under the false impression throughout my entire life that expressing my opinion was engaging in democracy which is a fundamental right guaranteed under the United States Constitution.
To be clear, this is not hyperbole and this is not sensationalism. Being targeted in the NDAA is by no means a laughing matter. Those who have read my coverage, or the coverage of the blacklisted sites in question know that U.S. citizens have been assassinated or disappeared and locked away in secret C.I.A black sites under the authorization of the NDAA.
No, being targeted by the NDAA is not a trivial matter. It is a matter of very, very serious concern. I am not the only one concerned.
Independent news outlets in the United States are now being listed alongside of Al Qaeda, ISIS and Russia for spreading propaganda for threatening and engaging in warfare against the United States.
Myself and others who maintain or contribute to independent news outlets are gravely concerned we will soon be targeted for investigations by the government given the recent rhetoric from corporate media, several members of congress, and other government officials alleging we participated in a Russia propaganda campaign to influence the U.S. election and undermine American’s faith in democracy.
For those not aware, many of those listed in these blacklists that are now officially targets of the United States government were not listed because they were spreading Russia propaganda or because they were spreading fake news.
Instead, they have been listed for the sole reason that they are competitors of the corporate media and these blacklists are being distributed solely so the corporate media can maintain their monopoly over online internet traffic and the $60 billion a year online advertising industry they control.
These blacklists have a chilling effect on Free Speech. Many on the blacklist do not spread Russia propaganda nor do they spread fake news.
Instead this is a blatant attempt by the corporate media to drive their competitors out of business.
While I have not been specifically named on these blacklists it is only a matter of time before I am.
I have a relationship with several outlets targeted on these blacklists. They have published my material. I have published theirs. They share my material, they link to it, they report on it. I share their material, I link to it and I report on it.
In private conversations, there is a common fear that we are now targets of a new era of cold war era McCarthyism even though the cold war ended decades ago.
We collectively appeal to the ACLU for legal representation as we are being targeted for nothing more than expressing our 1st amendment rights and are being targeted for the same.
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http://alexanderhiggins.com/2016-ndaa-targets-alternative-media-for-treason/
