Cindy Azucena Gomez-Schempp To my friends and colleagues: Im writing this message to a few of you whom I consider respected colleagues

and friends because I continue hearing nasty comments about the recent ND Free Press Convention, and the angry and malicious blog posted by Mr. Rob Port. Let me begin by saying that ND Free Press is owned by web developer John Jorgensen. John also had a dream in mind when he developed it. His idea was to create a platform for a commons throughout the state (sort of like our own ND AP wire) which would support the ever dwindling small independent newspapers in the state by sharing content and republishing their news statewide, increasing readership and information. ND Free Press would also represent the voices frequently silenced in ND these days. He has created ND Free Press and wants to further develop this idea. He connected with Bill Patrie, who has successfully helped launch hundreds of co-ops in his several decades of experience. Bill shares in Johns vision for ND Free Press, as a media consumer, but has no knowledge or interest in production or publishing. His expertise is in helping people to collaborate to produce co-ops that are member owned and provide services they cannot get elsewhere. However, Bill makes it pretty clear that for any cooperative to work, the people first have to agree that they want one to exist. I did not previously know (or had even hear of) either Bill or John. My only contact with them prior to the convention where Duke and I were asked to present, was discussions over the phone. John asked The Peoples Press Project to come and present and support the project because of our background in media justice organizing. We brought the concepts of media justice organizations (from the work/training we and others with whom we have collaborated, worked with, and/or are members of and with whom we have partnered in training communities with) such as Free Press, Center for Media Justice, Consumers Union, Mag-Net, and Main Street Project. We discussed the concepts of Article 19 of the UN Declaration of Human Rights with regard to peoples understanding of communication rights in our society. And, we talked about how independent and free media help communities to foster understanding, engage people in democracy by allowing discussion, and support grassroots organizing to create change. All of these media justice concepts rely on media that is ethical, equitable, and independent. That is what our portion of the presentation consisted of. Which is why I was surprised to my name or organization mentioned in Ports blog. As the former editor of a local newspaper, I quickly formed a thick skin and a standing policy not to

engage in tantrums, rages, or verbal jousting with any of the negative readers comments about points of view written by me or in our paper. However, I do take exception not only to the character assassination being perpetrated by Rob Port of Mr. Patrie, the Convention, and ND Free Press, and the associations being made to The Peoples Press Project, and my husband directly. Ive have watched as people attack John personally; Duke was ridiculed and called a communist; and Bill has been getting very nasty comments and emails as well. (I wouldnt be surprised if I too am soon dragged into the fray). But, I want my colleagues and friends to know what really took place. So, Im writing to you all today. First, l want to clarify that I did NOT see the exchange between Mr. Port and Mr. Patrie. In fact, neither John Jorgensen nor I or Duke were aware of just what occurred until after the convention was over. What I do know is that before Bill spoke, he stated the purpose of the convention meeting that day was to determine if there was enough people, will, and funding for such a cooperative to succeed. And, if there were, then what would it look like, and how would it function. But, that the purpose of the convention was NOT to debate whether or not ND Free Press should exist, or could be successful. And, if anyone was not there to work on that purpose, then they should leave the convention then and there - - just as he had asked another gentleman earlier to do. Bill never mentioned the name of that gentleman, which we later came to learn was Rob Port. However, nothing about what he said was surprising or disturbing to me. Because it was our understanding from the beginning that the convention was exclusively for that purpose. We never intended to have a convention meeting to tear down the idea of even creating ND Free Press, or to discuss politics, or for any other reason. I was also deeply offended and disturbed by Mr. Ports characterization of Bill and his shaking. I have never asked Bill about it, but anyone who knows or talks to Bill soon realizes that he has a palsy and a speech impediment. You cant talk to him for too long before immediately noticing it. It is very pronounced, and it makes him appear to be shaky, but not angry. Ive never heard Bill raise his voice, and given his mild mannered nature, I doubt it has happened very often. But, thats just my opinion. I dont know him well enough to say. What I can say is that from what Bill said to us, and I have no reason to doubt it, he was simply asking of Rob, what he asked of each and every one of us - - a commitment to the idea of building a media cooperative - - or to leave and not waste the time of other convention goers. I suspect this is in part due to his age (he is 63) and his lengthy experience in this work. Several times Bill said to us that he was too old to waste his time with an idea that people

did not support. Having helped hugely successful co-ops like Dakota Growers, Bill understands and explained to us that if there is not enough interest -- the project goes nowhere. I think it is only fair that if Mr. Port, instead of wanting to discuss the creation of the coop, was interested in debating whether or not we are mistaken in our individual beliefs that there is not enough independent media, or about whether or not ND Free Press should exist - then he should spend the time and effort to rent a meeting hall somewhere, invite hundreds of people, promote his event and have those discussions there - not sabotage an event that was clearly articulated not to be for the purpose that he was discussing with Bill. I also think it bears repeating that Mr. Port admits that Bill was not the one who asked him to leave, it was Rob himself who offered to do so. Bill only agreed that he should because he was obviously not there for the conventions intended purpose. As for Mr. Jorgensen, since he was blindsided by Mr. Ports call without knowing the facts and having to issue a response in the name of expediency, he apologized. And, I think it was the correct thing to do both for ND Free Press, and Mr. Jorgensen as its leader. However, I do not think anyone expected that apology to be interpreted as a tacit agreement with Ports version of events. You should also all know that John, Bill and Duke and I have all spoken about the matter, and preferred to simply let Mr. Jogensens apology speak for itself and continue our work. As I said previously, when I was editor I learned not to let anger from detractors steal my momentum. I believe that is exactly what Mr. Port was trying to do. I would like to add that in the comment section of his blog Rob mentioned two of his friends which arrived after he was allegedly kicked out of the convention, which provided him with information about who attended. I believe he was referring to Nikki Zinke and Dennis Stillings, both of whom I have worked with previously - Nikki was formerly on the board of PPP, and Dennis was a contributing writer for HPR. However, my relationship with both was not always comfortable. I tended not to print Mr. Stillings work, especially when it was racially divisive or downright discriminatory in nature. I cant imagine that pleased him, however we never discussed it. As for Ms. Zinke, she became very uncomfortable with our organization working with people of color, especially the Native American publication Last Real Indians. She would not say why she did not want our organization to associate with them, and subsequent to PPP voting to becoming LRI fiscal agent, she never returned to a board meeting, nor did she respond to our correspondence that her missed meetings and lack of content would require us to replace her so we could continue our work. In accordance with our by-laws, we removed her from the board with proper written notification and replaced her with a new member. She and Dennis both listened to our presentations at the convention, and then left without participating in any of the visioning work that the whole

convention was about. I noticed that she mentioned she would be publishing an editorial about the convention and Rob Ports ousting although Im at a loss to understand how she could really have much to say about an event she did not witness, and the purpose of the convention which she did not participate in. Ms. Zinke publishes Mr. Port in her newspaper. I think it is also important for you all to know that after the convention when people had a chance to discuss among themselves what they saw, heard and knew about the incident and about Mr. Port. I learned that Mr. Port was known to others at the convention as well. Logan Davis a reporter and former chief editor for the Turtle Mountain Times, and current freelance reporter for the county paper the Turtle Mountain Star, informed me that had he known Port was there, he would have been very upset - - and an exchange between him and Port could have become disruptive. He informed me that Port wrote a very racist and untrue, unsourced blog about his tribe and that subsequent to this, the tribe passed a resolution to banish Port from ever setting foot on the Turtle Mountain Reservation again. Here is the link to the blog entry made by Port that earned him banishment from a sovereign nation: http://sayanythingblog.com/entry/the_appalling_state_of_our_indian_reservations/ The Chippewa Nation have never before or since taken such an action, which to me is very telling. The provision they used in tribal law allows them to remove threats to their community such as child molesters. The fact that over 90 % of the tribal members voted to use this provision to keep Port of their land is also very telling. But, Mr. Davis was not the only one who spoke out. Several other attendees who spoke to me after the convention also expressed their discomfort with Port and informed me of his ties to the Koch Brothers funded Tea Party, and other Koch brothers organizations like Americans for Prosperity, and the Sam Adams Alliance. As a presenter at the event, I personally have no animosity toward Port, although in all fairness I should say that he has written negatively about me for my work on workers rights issues, back when I was working as a paralegal for the Schneider Law Firm. However, I never addressed any comments written about me by Port personally or professionally. I also do not read his blog. I will say, however, that my own research into Koch brothers funded groups, like those that support Port and his racism, are very offensive to me personally. On his own blog, Port proudly touts that: Rob Port is the editor of SayAnythingBlog.com. In 2011 he was a finalist for the Watch Dog of the Year from the Sam Adams Alliance and winner of the Americans For Prosperity Award for Online Excellence. He writes a weekly column for several North Dakota newspapers, and also serves as a policy fellow for the North Dakota Policy Council.

The Sam Adams Alliance, is just another Koch Brother front group that also funnels Koch money to other groups like Americans For Prosperity and the Franklin Center for Public and Government Integrity. There are many more, but Im not writing to discuss the Kochs or their not-so-thinly-veiled ties to Neo Natzi groups and dogma, or their direct involvement in the monopolization of American media -- which we were at the convention to try to counter. I am, however, disturbed that a man, like Port, who is tied to the Kochs, however indirectly - - and who has been tied to racist publishing which earned him banishment from by the sovereign Native Nation of the Chippewa -- would be championed in his efforts to derail our work. Despite my personal feelings about Port, or his ideology - - ND Free Press, an organization we at PPP did not develop or create, has been publishing Ports work for the past two months until he, angry over his alleged booting from our conference, decided to pull his content. ND Free Press continues to report and publish conservative and liberal writers alike. At any rate, as my friends, and because I know you all have been left scratching your heads wondering what really happened, I wanted to clarify. I dont want to leave you with the impression that we (John, Bill, Duke or I) dont care about what Rob said or did. Nor do we want people to see us sink to his level and begin slinging mud in public. That would only accomplish what Im sure Mr. Port was there to do but was prevented from doing by Mr. Patrie - - steal our momentum. Sincerely, Cindy Gomez-Schempp