East Central Reporter

After a week of public outcry, the city of Clarksdale, Mississippi, has decided to drop its lawsuit against the Clarksdale Press Register. The legal action initially sought to force the newspaper to remove an editorial critical of local officials. This decision follows widespread criticism from various quarters and advocacy by the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE).

The controversy began when Clarksdale held an unannounced meeting on February 4th regarding a proposed tax levy. The Press Register criticized this lack of transparency in an editorial titled "Secrecy, Deception Erode Public Trust." In response, the city's Board of Mayor and Commissioners voted to sue the newspaper for libel.

David Rubin, an attorney with FIRE, highlighted the broader implications of this case: “If the government can get a court order silencing mere questions about its decisions, the First Amendment rights of all Americans are in jeopardy.” On Monday, Clarksdale's Board voted not to proceed with the lawsuit and filed a notice of voluntary dismissal.

Wyatt Emmerich, president of Emmerich Newspapers which owns the Press Register, stated: “For over a hundred years, the Press Register has served the people of Clarksdale by speaking the truth and printing the facts. We didn’t earn the community’s trust by backing down to politicians.”

Judge Martin had previously granted a temporary restraining order without hearing from the newspaper. Legal experts criticized this as a violation of First Amendment rights. Josh Bleisch from FIRE commented: “For good reason, courts have long held that political speech about government officials deserves...the strongest protection under the First Amendment.”

The lawsuit's dismissal comes after national media coverage and condemnation from organizations like Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press. Emmerich remarked on how attempts at censorship backfired: “Let this be a lesson: if you try to silence one voice in America, a hundred more will take up the call.”

FIRE continues its mission to defend free speech rights across America.