FOIL stalling withholding in vindictive prosecution of "Don't Act, Don't Tell" repeal hero, Lt. Daniel Choi

Free Speech Implications  of Government Denying FOIA Requests  05 December 2013 Dear All :  Last night, I published a new YouTube video, which I'm sharing with you.   As of yesterday, I've not yet received any written response from the Department of Justice to the request, dated April 30, 2013, filed under the Freedom of Information Act ("FOIA"). The request sought information pertaining to the government's vindictive prosecution of "Don't Act, Don't Tell" repeal hero, Lt. Daniel Choi. Speech critical of the government, for example, political speech, is a freedom provided as a protection in the First Amendment. The First Amendment also includes a right to peacefully assemble and a right to petition the government for a redress of grievances. These rights areprotections enshrined in the Bill of Rights. These are guarantees made to us by the U.S. government. Free Speech Implications  of DOJ Denying FOIA Request on its Prosecution of Lt. Daniel Choi The very idea of a republic implies rights conveyed to citizens to meet and consult one another, and to petition their government, if they so choose. How can citizens exercise their rights to free speech, to assemble, and to petition, when the government restricts, delays, or prevents the sharing of information necessary for ourcitizen activities ? Our guarantees to free speech are being diminished, shortened, and restricted by conditions created by the government denying FOIA requests.    Separate from any rights under freedom of the press afforded to me as a blogger, there originates my right to free speech as a citizen. How can one review, consult, and comment on the functions and actions of one's own government, if one is denied information ?   Refusing to honor FOIA requests prevents us from forming complete thoughts and speech, in this case, speech that may be critical of the government. Denying FOIA requests denies citizens their rights to freely and completely speak, to fully consult with other citizens, to peacefully and meaningfully assemble, and to petition the government, if necessary, for a redress of grievances. Thwarting information violates our rights, protections, and guarantees, in accordance with the design of our republic. This is what is at stake when the government refuses to honor requests filed under the Freedom of Information Act.    The implications of restricting information, to the detriment of our right to free speech, are not limited to me or to the readers of my blog, but to every citizen. The truth about the government's vindictive prosecution of Lt. Choi, and other functions and actions of our government, impacts you, because how can you fully speak to what happened, if you are being denied information about what took place ?     If you share my concerns, please share this e-mail with your friends and family. It's only by sharing information that we will know what our government is doing, and this will inform our citizen activities, as it rightly should.    Best regards,    -- Louis Flores Other Updates YOU CAN STILL BUY COPIES OF  "ROOTS OF BETRAYAL" Four bookstores in Manhattan and Brooklyn  Roots of Betrayal : The Ethics of Christine Quinn can be purchased at any one of these independent bookstores :  Book Thug Nation, 100 N. Third Street, Williamsburg, Brooklyn McNally Jackson Books, 52 Prince Street, Manhattan St. Mark's Bookshop, 31 Third Avenue, Manhattan Bluestockings, 172 Allen Street, Manhattan