#DefendThePress: Erie Reader Legal Defense Fund

Help defend the First Amendment and Freedom of the Press! The Erie Reader, Erie's only independent, locally-owned alternative newspaper, and its contributing editor, Jim Wertz, were sued for defamation by PA State Senator Dan Laughlin, who filed a multi-million dollar lawsuit against the Reader and Wertz. The lawsuit alleges that Wertz defamed Laughlin in an opinion piece outlining actions connected to attempts to overturn the results of the 2020 Election and the events of January 6. This lawsuit is an attempt to silence the media from publishing critical political commentary and analysis.

"The First Amendment and the Pennsylvania Constitution provide robust protection for individuals and entities to gather, report, publish, and comment on accurate information that is a matter of public concern or significance," wrote Paula Knudsen Burke, a lawyer for the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press in a July 25 response to Congressman Mike Kelly, who first threatened litigation over the opinion piece. "The Op-Ed falls squarely within the scope of those important constitutional protections."

The Erie Reader and Jim Wertz have retained the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press and attorneys from Saul Ewing Arnstein & Lehr in Pittsburgh, PA, to defend them from Senator Laughlin's suit. While some of the attorney's fees have been graciously provided pro-bono, additional fees will be sizable and unavoidable.

Help these independent journalists maintain their voice in their community by contributing to the Erie Reader Legal Defense Fund. The First Amendment and the future of journalism may depend on it.

*This is not a political contribution. Donations do not support any candidate or political party.