On Monday, July 10, there will be a rally in front of The New York Times headquarters in New York City to protest the Times' publication of national security secrets damaging America's ability to fight the War on Terror.
The rally is sponsored by Caucus For America, in conjunction with Free Republic, Congress for Racial Equality, Military Families Voice of Victory, Protest Warriors, March Against Terror, and others. The press release for the event quotes Rabbi Aryeh Spero, president of Caucus for America:
Twice, the New York Times has published national security secrets and hurt America in the War on Terror, aiding, it appears, the enemy in a time of war. Arthur Sulzberger, Jr., as well as his editors and journalists have put us and our children at risk for future terrorist attack. It is up to us to stand up now before the Times divulges even more secrets.
I and the protesters believe that the Times's disloyalty to the country is obvious, despite they're disingenuous attempt to hide behind "freedom of the press" and "the public's right to know." Clearly they are jeopardizing national security and the safety and the lives of you and me, the public.
Rally organizers support the call by Congressman Peter King, chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee, for the Bush administration to seek criminal charges against The New York Times for publishing articles on a secret financial-monitoring program used to track down terrorists.
"I am asking the Attorney General to begin an investigation and prosecution of The New York Times -- the reporters, the editors and the publisher," stated Congressman King, of New York. "We're at war, and for the Times to release information about secret operations and methods is treasonous."
The rally will take place from 5:30-7:30 p.m. in front of the New York Times Building at 229 West 43rd Street, New York, N.Y.
The Times is losing this battle even if this event doesn't draw a big crowd.
A poll conducted for FoxNews after the Times revealed the secret tracking of terrorist financing program found the public supports the government's secret program, believes the Times' outing of the program “did more to help terrorist groups like al-Qaeda” than to “help the American public,” and that media organizations that “report and publish information about national security secrets that may make it easier for terrorists to operate,” should “face criminal charges.”
The poll shows there is strong support for the Treasury Department program tracking financial transactions in search of terrorist funding. Seven of 10 Americans support the program, including majorities of Republicans (83 percent), independents (67 percent) and Democrats (58 percent).
The Bush administration asked the New York Times not to publish information about the secret program, but the newspaper went ahead because it felt it was in the public interest to do so. By publishing the story, a 60 percent majority thinks the Times did more to help terrorist groups than the public (27 percent).
More Americans blame government employees for leaking the classified info (51 percent) than the media for reporting it (28 percent).
Furthermore, almost all (87 percent) think the employees who leaked should face criminal charges and two-thirds think the news organizations should. Even so, only 43 percent are willing to call what the media did treason, and almost as many think the organizations that published the information were operating for the public good (37 percent).
The full results of the poll are available here (pdf format). The poll was conducted from June 27 to June 28 and has a 3 percent margin of error.
The public supports the position of President Bush over that of the unelected publishers and reporters of the New York Times when it comes to gathering the necessary intelligence to fight the war on terror and prevent another 9/11-like terror attack in the United States.
UPDATE: At Kesher Talk, Judith posts that the organizers have a sound permit and there will be speakers.
UPDATE II: Michelle posts that about 150 folks showed up to take the Times to task. She and Allahpundit have pictures.
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