CWA Rallies in Defense of Free Speech

NewsGuild-CWA Member Karen Attiah Will Not Be Silenced

After 11 years with the Washington Post, journalist, founding Global Opinions editor, and Washington-Baltimore News Guild (TNG-CWA Local 32035) member Karen Attiah was abruptly fired last month for remarks she made in the aftermath of controversial podcast host Charlie Kirk’s death, condemning America’s acceptance of political violence. Despite her commentary receiving virtually no condemnation or public backlash, management at the Post called her remarks “unacceptable” and “gross misconduct” and accused her of endangering the physical safety of colleagues.

Attiah, in her Substack, commented, “They rushed to fire me without even a conversation—claiming disparagement on race. This was not only a hasty overreach, but also a violation of the very standards of journalistic fairness and rigor the Post claims to uphold.”

The Washington Post Newspaper Guild, in a statement released last month, commits to supporting their union sibling and condemns the Post’s actions. “The Post not only flagrantly disregarded standard disciplinary processes, it also undermined its own mandate to be a champion of free speech. The right to speak freely is the ultimate personal liberty and the foundation of Karen’s 11-year career at the Post.”

You can read the Washington Post Newspaper Guild’s full statement here.

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TSEU-CWA Members Strike Back Against Free Speech Suppression

Also last month, after the dismissal of tenured Texas State University professor Dr. Tom Alter, members of the Texas State Employees Union (TSEU-CWA Local 6186) sprang to his defense, rallying student and community organizations, labor allies, and elected officials to demand his immediate reinstatement. University President Kelly Damphousse terminated Dr. Alter without a hearing, investigation, or meaningful opportunity to respond.

Dr. Alter was fired after giving an off-campus talk as a private citizen at a conference three days prior. His talk was secretly recorded and shared by an aspiring YouTube influencer who is known for extremist rhetoric. In his talk, Dr. Alter outlined the history of socialist movements in America.

TSEU-CWA members launched a petition campaign and then turned to organizing a rally and press conference at the Hays County Historic Courthouse to demand Dr. Alter’s reinstatement and to send a clear message: free speech will not be silenced in Texas. Speakers at the press conference included Public, Healthcare and Education Workers Vice President Margaret Cook; TSEU-CWA President Ilesa Daniels Ross; Leonard Aguilar, Secretary-Treasurer of the Texas AFL-CIO; Texas State Representative Erin Zwiener; San Marcos City Councilmember Amanda Rodriguez; and representatives from other campus and civic groups.

“This is about Tom and his family, but it is bigger than just Tom and his family,” said Ross. “It’s about whether any of us can speak our minds without fear. If we stay silent, we let political pressure and online mobs dictate the rules. But when we organize to fight back, we win.”

On September 27, Hays County District Judge Alicia Key granted a temporary restraining order, reinstating Dr. Alter with back pay and benefits while litigation continues.

 
Members of TSEU-CWA joined with student, community, and labor allies to oppose the unjust termination of tenured professor Dr. Tom Alter. Public, Healthcare and Education Workers Vice President Margaret Cook (third from right) took part in the rally and press conference.

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This post originally appeared on cwa-union.org.