Martyrs to Freedom of the Press
This is a good time to mention one of the earliest martyrs to the freedom of the press (perhaps the earliest and certainly the earliest over here) Mr Elijah Lovejoy, who himself was a religious figure in Murica in the 19th century. He died in 1837 in Alton Il defending his printing presses from pro slavery forces.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elijah_Parish_Lovejoy
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_journalists_killed_in_the_United_States
http://www.post-gazette.com/opinion/david-shribman/2012/11/04/America-s-first-martyr-to-free-speech/stories/201211040178
see the monument
Nature Lover , once of Alton,IL