United States: Sandra Fish Thrown Out of Colorado Republican Event

During an event in Pueblo, Colorado, the Colorado Republican Party ejected Fish following allegations from the party chairman that her reporting was deemed "very unfair.”

Location: Pueblo, Colorado, United States

Date: April 6, 2024

Women Press Freedom stands in support of Sandra Fish, an experienced political journalist with the Colorado Sun, who was ejected from the state Republican party assembly by the party chairman for ‘being biased.’ She was asked to leave by security about an hour into the state party assembly. We strongly denounce this clear violation of press freedom and the First Amendment rights. We call for transparency from the political party concerning the journalist's removal and demand accountability.

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Sandra Fish, a seasoned political reporter for the Colorado Sun, was expelled from a Colorado Republican Party assembly in Pueblo after being accused of biased reporting by the state party chair. 

The incident, captured on video by fellow journalists present, sheds light on the escalating tensions between Fish and Colorado's state party chair, Dave Williams. Williams, who is currently vying for a congressional seat in the state's fifth district, accused Fish of unfair reporting, explicitly citing her coverage of a pro-Trump mailer distributed by the party that targeted his primary opponent.

"The state party has made the decision that today’s assembly is not an ‘open’ press event. This is to inform you that your name is not included in my final press credentials list currently being typed up,” Eric Grossman wrote in a 3:45 a.m. text message to Fish. “The state chairman believes current reporting to be very unfair.”

Williams' controversial background, including his past support of election conspiracy theories and involvement in the January 6 insurrection, has raised questions about his leadership and ideological stance within the party.

The decision to expel Fish from the assembly drew a swift rebuke from various quarters, with Republican state senator Barbara Kirkmeyer denouncing the action and former party chair Kristi Burton Brown labeling it "dangerous."

In response to the backlash, Williams defended his actions, asserting that Fish and the Colorado Sun were aligned with the Democratic party and, therefore, unwelcome at the Republican convention. However, no specific grievances or inaccuracies in Fish's reporting were explicitly addressed by Williams.

Women Press Freedom condemns this act and demands full transparency and accountability from the Colorado Republican Party regarding their decision to exclude Sandra Fish. We stand with the journalistic community in calling out this injustice and emphasize the crucial role of an independent press in maintaining a transparent and democratic society. Politicians must not be allowed to cherry-pick their coverage to escape critical reporting. The exclusion of a credentialed journalist from a political gathering is not only harmful but also counterproductive to the democratic process. We call for an immediate reassessment of this decision and reaffirm our commitment to defending press freedom at all costs.

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