Carl Haglund Offers Financial Support to Man Fired for Starting Sawant Recall Petition
Haglund says Ernie Lou’s Bravery Should be Rewarded, Rights Defended
SEATTLE, WA – Carl Haglund, president of Columbia Modern Living and the founder of The Carl Haglund Foundation has offered a $5,000 stipend and continuing financial support to Ernie Lou, the man who started the recall petition against Socialist Seattle Council Member Kashama Sawant. Lou was reportedly fired for his activism.
“Every citizen has the right to express their political views without fear of reprisal” Haglund said. “We live in democratic society and everyone should be allowed to participate. If we start firing people simply because they challenge powerful politicians, we are headed down a dark path” Haglund continued.
On August 18th, Mr. Lou initiated a formal recall petition against Councilwoman Sawant. He alleged several violations of law by Sawant that include misuse of Council resources, unfair hiring practices for her supporters, and illegally revealing the address of City Mayor Durkan (as a past federal prosecutor, her address is protected by law). Two days later, Lou was fired by his employer, Three Dollar Cinema, a nonprofit theater company.
“We are living in scary times,” Haglund noted. “If we allow powerful politicians, influential donors and the cancel culture to destroy honest men and women who express their constitutionally protected free speech rights or who are simply participating in the democratic process, then we are no better than some of the repressive governments we so often criticize.”
In response to Lou’s firing, Haglund offer a $5,000 reward for his activism and offered him financial support for his direct democracy efforts. Lou expressed his appreciation noting “Thanks so much for the $5,000 Award from your Foundation! I’m humbled and overwhelmed by this award!”
In addition to financial support, Haglund started an online petition asking Three Dollar Cinema to give Lou his job back. The petition is available at: http://chng.it/GRrzNhjQKH
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