ACLJ steps up to defend bloggers targeted over Brett Kimberlin coverage

By Michelle Malkin • June 7, 2012 12:18 PM

I’ve been telling you about First Amendment lawyers working behind the scenes to help the targets of Brett Kimberlin and his online cabal.

Kudos to the ACLJ for stepping up to the plate in the face of ongoing threats and smears. Just released:

IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 7, 2012

ACLJ DEFENDS FREE SPEECH IN BLOGOSPHERE – REPRESENTING TOP CONSERVATIVE BLOGGERS TARGETED FOR HARASSMENT

(Washington, DC) – The American Center for Law and Justice (ACLJ), which focuses on constitutional law, announced today it is providing legal representation to a top conservative blogger and his organization that represents hundreds of bloggers who are facing threats and intimidation tactics by those opposed to their viewpoint.

“Free speech is under attack,” said Jay Sekulow, Chief Counsel of the ACLJ. “Conservative writers are now facing threats against themselves, their families, and their livelihoods merely because they’ve aggressively investigated the history and funding of radical liberals. The ACLJ has a long history of successfully defending free speech, and we look forward to defeating this latest attempt to threaten and intimidate conservatives into silence.”

The issue involves targeting a number of conservative bloggers with a dangerous and illegal tactic that’s become known as SWAT-ing (making false 911 calls sending police to the homes of bloggers, claiming a crime has occurred.) The tactic is used in retaliation for posts the conservative bloggers have written.

The ACLJ is representing Ali Akbar, a top blogger and president of the National Bloggers Club, a coalition of 300 conservative bloggers who reach millions of readers. Akbar has seen his mother’s home photographed and placed on the internet. He has also received formal notification that he may soon be sued for publishing truthful information about radical liberals and their wealthy donors.

“I’m grateful for the support of the ACLJ, and I’m confident we’ll defeat any and all legal challenges to our fundamental right to free speech,” said Akbar. “We will not be deterred in our quest for the truth.”

The ACLJ will aggressively defend the constitutionally-protected free speech rights of Akbar and his organizations.

The ACLJ’s representation of Akbar comes as Senator Saxby Chambliss (R-GA) is calling on Attorney General Eric Holder to investigate the SWAT-ting cases to see if federal laws have been violated. In a letter to the Attorney General, Sen. Chambliss wrote: “Any potentially criminal action that incites fear, seeks to silence a dissenting opinion, and collaterally wastes the resources of law enforcement should be given close scrutiny at all levels. . . Regardless of any potential political differences that may exist, threats and intimidation have no place in our national political discourse.”

Led by Chief Counsel Jay Sekulow, the American Center for Law and Justice is based in Washington, D.C. and online at www.aclj.org.

Jay’s blog post is here.

Don’t forget: Donate here to support Kimberlin targets.

***

While House Republicans have not raised the issue in their hearing with AG Eric Holder this morning, look for exposure of this issue next week in the Senate as bloggers step up their pressure on Capitol Hill.

***

Previous:

GOP Sen. Saxby Chambliss to DOJ: What are you doing about SWATtings?

Won’t back down: Amidst threats, National Bloggers Club announces Aaron Walker appeal; blogs to crank up pressure on Congress

Free speech blogburst: Show solidarity for targeted conservative bloggers; Update: It’s Everybody Blog About Brett Kimberlin Day; Donation fund for targets

Letter from an Indiana reader about Brett Kimberlin; Update: A tribute to Carl DeLong

Who’s funding Brett Kimberlin?

A post-Brett Kimberlin blogburst to-do list; Updated

The Brett Kimberlin nightmare continues: Aaron Walker in custody

Breakthrough: Fox covers Brett Kimberlin/ Patterico SWATting, bloggers continue pressing the story

Contempt: Free speech-trampling judge in Kimberlin case exposed; help Aaron Walker fight back

*Prediction by most involved is that Holder will do squat on it. Many blogs, Twitter and FB go dark tomorrow, Friday June 8, 2012, in protest and solidarity with the other large bloggers involved in this.  We will be joining them.*

Related:

Breaking… Blogger Aaron Walker Arrested after Maryland Hearing on Kimberlin Case – Updated

Free Speech Blogburst: Showing Solidarity for Targeted Conservative Bloggers

Brett Kimberlin Saga Takes a Bizarre Turn, Forcing Me to Leave Maryland   -  Watcher’s Council Winner 05.25.12

Technorati Tags: Michelle Malkin,SWATing,ACLJ,DOJ,Brett Kimberlin,Freedom of Speech,Freedom of the Press,domestic terrorists,Aaron Walker,standing together,stand-up America,freedom,blogosphere,bloggers,Jay Sekulow,knowledge is power,politics

Painting of Obama Trampling Constitution Resurfaces, Artist‘s New Work Tells ’Enslaved‘ Americans to ’Wake Up!’

Some may already be familiar with the image featured above. For those who aren’t, it is painting titled “The Forgotten Man” which features President Obama trampling on the Constitution while an astonished James Madison pleads with him to stop. To the side, a man sits on a park bench in the throes of depression while 43 presidents look on. The painting, which uses discarded dollar bills and scraps of paper with individual constitutional amendments scrawled onto them.

The Blaze first reported on artist Jon McNaughton’s controversial rendition back in 2010 when the artwork was released. Now, however, McNauughton’s Forgotten Man has resurfaced and is making its rounds across the internet again after appearing on Rachel Maddow’s blog on Thursday.

In a video that accompanied The Forgotten Man’s release, the politically charged McNaughton revealed, “For a long time I didn’t know if I wanted to paint this picture, because I worried it might be too controversial.”

He explained that the man on the park bench “represents every man, woman, and child who is an American“ and who ”hopes to find the American dream of happiness and prosperity.” The artist added, “But now because of unconstitutional acts imposed on the American people by our government we stand on the precipice of disasters.”

The artists’ work can be found at McNaughton Fine Art (though the site appeared to be down, at least temporarily on Friday evening) and on his Facebook Page. A search of McNaughton’s postings on Facebook reveal a number of paintings with strong political and religious themes including another provocative work released in October 2011 titled “Wake Up America.” The image features Obama smiling on the stump while shackled Americans gather around him. From the artist’s YouTube page:

We are enslaved to our debt. Wake up, America! Before it is too late…

Every man, woman and child in America is enslaved to the national debt. As an artist, I have painted my vision of the dire circumstances that surround us. Now, more than ever, each American must make a choice: we must unlock the shackles that enslave us, or will we lose our freedom. It is my hope and prayer that America will “wake up” before it is too late.

The image is featured below:

With the Nevada Caucuses around the corner, CBS Las Vegas caught up with McNaughton to talk about his work. Since the painting’s release, “It sold thousands,” McNaughton told the network.

“I sold many different sizes and editions, and now that we are in an election year I expect to sell more.”

Below is a video of the artist explaining “Wake Up America”:

Video: Wake Up America - Jon McNaughton

Much of McNaughton’s work is political in nature. Previously, he released “One Nation Under God,” a painting depicting Jesus holding the Constitution and judging several archetypes including a liberal journalist, a smug college professor, and a man McNaughton calls “Mr. Hollywood.”

Originally from Arizona, McNaugton currently lives in Utah and received a full scholarship to Brigham Young University.

“I hope my work will create conversation and reach people on a deeper level,” he states on his website. “I like to use metaphor and multiple levels of meaning to reach my viewer. If it makes them think and feel, then it is successful.”

McNaughton also told CBSLV: “I’m not trying to create an art style. I want to communicate my ideas. Isn’t that the purpose of art?”

Below is a painting titled “Peace Is Coming”:

The Blaze