In a rare show of solidarity, six groups with differing political and ethical views have filed amicus (friend-of-the-court) briefs asking the Ninth Circuit to overturn a jury verdict and multi-million dollar judgment against the pro-lifers who exposed Planned Parenthood’s trafficking in baby parts.
Life Legal filed its opening brief on behalf of former Center for Medical Progress board member Albin Rhomberg on February 26. The amicus briefs filed last Friday serve to amplify and extend the arguments presented in the briefs of Rhomberg and his co-defendants.
The amicus briefs argue that District Court Judge William Orrick erred in his findings throughout the lawsuit and in his instructions to the jury – including his refusal to instruct the jury that costs incurred as a result of lawful First Amendment activity are not recoverable as damages.
Justin Marceau, a law professor at the University of Denver, filed a brief on behalf of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), Mercy for Animals, and eleven free speech scholars. “Undercover newsgathering and reporting is central to law and policy debates on matters of public concern,” wrote Marceau. “[I]f left standing, the district court’s various decisions on recoverable damages will be a roadmap for investigative subjects to sue journalists, activists, and whistleblowers to chill their undercover investigative work.
Full story at Life Legal Defense Foundation.
It’s not solidarity. It’s self-interest. All those groups want to be able to do secret gotcha recordings.
So?
No, Anonymous, it is not “self-intetest,” to risk danger and even risk your life sometimes, to do undercover work, to expose great evils, corruption, and exploitation– and end suffering! Such work is a tremendous sacrifice– not “self-interest!”
Undercover investigative reporters often face death threats, and some are also injured or even killed! Some, like David Daleiden, end up with heavy fires or jail sentences!
I recall several prominent cases, when young, of criminals in the underworld violently carrying out assassinations of undercover investigative news reporters. A very dangerous profession!
Well when I buy lotions, creams and cosmetics, I look to see if they are tested on animals. If they are not, I am more likely to buy them as that should mean they are not tested from aborted fetal lines either. When buy eggs, I like the ones that are cage and hormone free.
What? They make lotion from aborted fetal lines? When did that start?
Are meatless hamburgers okay? What if the plants were mistreated?
A lot of what we do causes the suffering or death of other living beings. You can offer your sufferings for the salvation of souls.
Say “no” to evils that harm others, offer up your little inconveniences for the salvation of souls, and pray for the end to all evils and suffering in the world. That is what I do. An inconvenience that I embrace right now, is refusing easy-to-get, available COVID-19 vaccines made from aborted fetal cell lines.
I should make it clear that I look at the ingredients also.
Me, too, Anne TE! Our house has been totally “cruelty-free,” for years! And nothing from aborted fetal lines, either– including corrupt vaccines!
I do want to take the vaccine, to protect myself as well as others. But I want to make sure I get only a shot that is truly acceptable, morally– not just the easiest shot to get.