MU Alumnus Jim Foley Held Captive in Libya - Sign Petition for His Release

[Mike_Marquette]

Jim Foley, 1996 Graduate of Marquette University, was working as a freelance journalist in Libya when he was taken captive by forces loyal to Gadhafi. Here is a link to the most recent Boston Globe article on Foley's story:
http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2011/04/11/agency_hopeful_on_release_of_reporter_in_libya/

Stories like these are the kind that fill the newspapers and in the course of our days we don't give much thought to the people behind the stories. But now it is one of our own. Jim graduated from Marquette in 1996 and is a huge hoops fan (Marquette and Boston Celtics). Please take 1.5 minutes and fill out the petition linked below. Jim has been held since last Tuesday, first by the Gadhafi loyalists, then by the Libyan military, and now it appears by the Libyan state. The goal of the petition is to present it to those assisting with the diplomatic efforts to demand Jim's swift release.

If anyone has any questions please feel free to contact me.

Petition: http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/free-captured-American-journalists/

Facebook Page: http://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=200999243274404&id=1171142639&ref=notif&notif_t=share_reply#!/FreeFoley

[beercanindasky]

petition link is not going to a petition.

[Mike_Marquette]

Fixed. Thank you.

[ChicosBailBonds]

Shouldn't this petition go to Obama and not Libya?

[Mike_Marquette]

It goes to the US State Department, which is the specific diplomatic entity within the United States government responsible for working to facilitate Jim Foley's release from Libya. 

Please don't hijack this thread and turn it into a political one. This is about a fellow Marquette alum who needs help, even in the small form of signing a petition or keeping him in your thoughts and prayers. 

[Dawson Rental]

Petition or no petition, I fear that Jim is in for a long stay.  I'm sure that Gadhafi's crazy enough to think that this gives him leverage over the U.S.

[Mike_Marquette]

There have been some assurances (by Gaddafi's son) that Foley and the other journalists would be released. There have been indications that there will be a press conference soon in Libya about the journalists.

Our hope is that Libya will release these journalists swiftly and treat them well while they are captive in an effort to show the world their civility. They recently did this with some reporters from the New York Times.

In any event, 1.5 minutes of your time can complete the petition and show the world that people do care and are paying attention. Thanks.

[BrewCity83]

I did it. 

I just hope Gaddafi doesn't come after me know that he has my address.

[ChicosBailBonds]

It goes to the US State Department, which is the specific diplomatic entity within the United States government responsible for working to facilitate Jim Foley's release from Libya. 

Please don't hijack this thread and turn it into a political one. This is about a fellow Marquette alum who needs help, even in the small form of signing a petition or keeping him in your thoughts and prayers. 

I'm not hijacking it.  I'm glad to see it's going where it needs to go.  At one point I thought you were directing this thing to Ghadafi's camp which was going to get you nowhere.  I'm sure Mrs. Clinton and Department of State are doing what they can.  I hope it works out where he and the others can come out safely.

[brewcity77]

Just signed the petition, I'm signature #1000. 20% of the way to the goal

[Avenue Commons]

I knew Jim Foley at Marquette. He's a great guy. Please sign the petition. It is a simple thing to help support a fellow Marquette alum in an obvious time of need. 

[Mike_Marquette]

Thanks to everyone who has responded by signing the petition. Before I put up this post on the message boards there were only a few hundred signatures, and now there are over 1000. No doubt the Marquette community stepped up big. There are over 1000 page views on both of the boards and, hopefully, lots more emails, tweets, Facebook posts, etc to your Marquette connections. Thank you.

Here's a great article from the Concord Monitor on Jim Foley's work as a war reporter in Iraq, Afghanistan and Libya and the importance of these reporters during a time of war: http://www.concordmonitor.com/article/250832/journalist-reminds-us-whats-at-stake

[NersEllenson]

Signed.  Jim is a great guy and as a friend of his from MU - appreciate the support of those who have participated/signed the petition.

[Henry Sugar]

FWIW - we just put it out there via the Cracked Sidewalks FB page and twitter feed.  Whenever we get off our lazy butts and do a media update it'll be included too.

[martyconlonontherun]

Will sign and pray for him, but would Libya really care what 5,000 US citizens care about? I'm sure our government is doing their best to get him back whether or not some alumns sign this petition. Feel this should be a support page instead of some petition.

[Mike_Marquette]

Petitions are a symbolic and historic way of communicating a group's concern to the government. Petitioning is a large part of how and why the First Amendment came to so broadly protect freedom of speech in the Bill of Rights. A petition, unlike a support page, therefore has a historic weight that an online support page would not.

Similarly, the Federal and many State Governments often pass "resolutions" which have little to no weight legally. However, in much the same way as a group of citizens present a petition, a resolution shows that the governmental arm wishes to voice its support/opposition to a subject in a formal and recognized manner.

The bottom line is that Jim Foley will obviously not be released because of a certain number of citizens' signatures alone. But the petition will show our support of our fellow Marquette alum and demonstrate that people do care about Jim Foley and the other journalists working to expose light on a part of the world where it otherwise would not shine. Please sign the petition as it shows the world that you are one of the people that care. Thanks. 

[Skatastrophy]

Can we move this to the Superbar?  Joe Fulce's new mixtape had more to do with MU bball than this.

[Mike_Marquette]

Can we move this to the Superbar?  Joe Fulce's new mixtape had more to do with MU bball than this.

Wow.

What it has to do with Marquette basketball is that a Marquette alumnus, who is a huge Marquette basketball fan and a fan of basketball generally, has been taken captive by the Libyan government. This captivity was a result of his following his passions and beliefs, many of which were formed at Marquette University, to do what he can to help others in need and to live a life of principle and faith.

I hope that basis is sufficient enough for you.

[Skatastrophy]

Wow.

What it has to do with Marquette basketball is that a Marquette alumnus, who is a huge Marquette basketball fan and a fan of basketball generally, has been taken captive by the Libyan government. This captivity was a result of his following his passions and beliefs, many of which were formed at Marquette University, to do what he can to help others in need and to live a life of principle and faith.

I hope that basis is sufficient enough for you.

Nothing personal, it's just not basketball.  Plus, there's already a thread in the Superbar about it started 4 days before this one:

http://www.muscoop.com/index.php?topic=26712.0

[JoBo2756]

Filled it out and Facebooked it.

[Mike_Marquette]

Shameless bump.

The story of Jim Foley's captivity, as it hits Day 14, has started to get lots of media attention and vigils in New Hampshire in Chicago all made the local news. Please visit www.FreeFoley.org for links to media mentions and info on what you can do to help a fellow Marquette alumnus. People in Milwaukee, please keep your eyes open for a WTMJ story on Foley tonight.

Ring Out Ahoya and AMDG.

[Mike_Marquette]

Marquette is having a prayer vigil for Jim Foley on April 26th. Please also keep Jim and his family in your thoughts and prayers over the Easter weekend. Details below:

http://www.marquette.edu/faith/

Prayers for James Foley
The Marquette family is praying for James Foley, Arts '96, alumnus and freelance journalist, who is being held by the Libyan government along with three other journalists. The thoughts and prayers of the Marquette community are with James, the other journalists and their families.

A prayer vigil is scheduled at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, April 26th in the Chapel of the Holy Family in the Alumni Memorial Union, 1442 W. Wisconsin Avenue.

To learn more about what you can do, visit www.freefoley.org, or send a Prayer Request via this website.

[ZiggysFryBoy]

his story made the Madison news tonight.

[marqfan22]

Jim's parents were just on Good Morning America.

[WildBill77RT]

Bump.

Prayer Vigil for Foley at the Union Chapel tonight (Tuesday, Apr 26) @6pm  if you're in the area.