Congressman Albio Sires Underscores Critical Importance of Free Press

(Washington, D.C.) – Today, on World Press Freedom Day, Congressman Sires emphasized the importance of a free and independent press.

“Having grown up in Cuba, a country where journalists are still routinely beaten up and imprisoned for trying to report the news, I know the importance of a free and independent press. A vibrant media is the bedrock of any democracy, including ours.

Whether seeking to overcome censorship in Venezuela, expose organized crime groups in Central America, or ascend above the partisan divide in the United States, journalists around the world confront immense challenges and personal risks in fulfilling their sacred responsibility to inform the public. Journalists are not the enemy of the people; they are the lifeblood of our democracy and we should honor their work.

To speak without censorship is a fundamental right. As a member of Congress, I will continue to work each day to protect every person’s right to free expression and a free media.”

###