United Farm Workers Threaten Libel Suit Over LA Times Series

Update:  The UFW tells its side of the story here.

According to Overlawyered.com, "journalist Marc Cooper, who wrote the L.A. Weekly piece, says the [UFW] has sent him a demand that he retract or correct his piece on pain of being sued. Cooper says the L.A. Times and Bakersfield papers have received similar threats."

And, apparently, even I better be careful what I write about the UFW: "Even some lonely bloggers who have recently written about the UFW have been contacted by the union or its hired PR agents and directly warned not to continue criticizing it." (Marc Cooper, "Gag Me With a Grape", L.A. Weekly, Feb. 8; Cooper blog entry and comments, Feb. 8 (via Romenesko).

What in the world is going on at this once-proud union? Do they really think threatening a bunch of libel suits against anyone or everyone who criticize them will improve their image?

PS