The small town of Marion, Kansas was thrust into the national spotlight this week after the police chief of the town, Gideon Cody, was suspended following a highly criticized raid of a local newspaper. In response to the raid, Marion Mayor David Mayfield suspended Cody on Thursday, and Cody resigned Monday. The raid had a tragic consequence, as the Record co-owner Joan Meyer, 98, died of stress caused by the incident the day after the raid. The raid of the Marion County Record has sparked a national debate about the press protections offered by the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.
Posts tagged as “Joan Meyer”
Mayor David Mayfield of Marion, Kansas has suspended Police Chief Gideon Cody following a series of raids on August 11th, which included the office of the local newspaper, the Marion County Record, and the home of the city's Vice Mayor Ruth Herbel. The raids sparked criticism from press advocates and the Marion County Record released a statement expressing their concern for First Amendment rights. The suspension of Police Chief Cody is the latest development in this story, and it is unclear what further action, if any, will be taken by the city.
Joan Meyer, co-owner of the Marion County Record, passed away at her home on Saturday. The day prior, police had raided both her home and the newspaper's office, seizing computers, phones, and other electronic devices. This raid has been deemed a violation of the U.S. Constitution's protection of a free press, and the Marion County Record has requested an investigation into the police raid and its potential connection to Meyer's death.