Drop criminal charges against journalists in Newark

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AP Photo/Angelina Katsanis

Prosecutors are holding criminal charges over the heads of journalists who were wrongfully arrested while covering immigration protests at Delaney Hall in New Jersey.

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Tell New Jersey officials to drop charges against journalists

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Dear Chief Municipal Prosecutor Jones and Mayor Baraka,

I urge you to drop all charges against journalists who were wrongfully arrested while covering protests at Delaney Hall. At least three individuals who clearly identified themselves as press were charged after simply doing their job on May 31, 2026.

It is unconscionable that these journalists spent a full day in custody even after public officials acknowledged that press would be exempt from Newark’s curfew. They include but may not be limited to Chuck Modiano, Theoren Papp and Yaakov Strasberg. All were documenting — not participating in — the protest.

Damage has already been done. At least three people arrested that night (including Strasberg) ended up in the hospital. There have been allegations of inappropriate use of force during arrests. Because of police efforts to keep away press, your own office now lacks evidence that might have been valuable to investigate these events.

Journalists need to be able to report the news without fear of arrest. The pending charges against press who were working in Newark chill their ongoing work and the media as a whole, which in turn does continued damage to public safety.

There is an undeniable problem with police conduct toward press at Delaney Hall. Officers were caught on camera pepper-spraying and beating journalists with batons, prohibiting the use of basic safety equipment, and issuing conflicting orders. One news crew was pulled from their vehicle, while another was chased down the street live on national television. The Essex County Prosecutor's Office even charged an officer for stealing a photographer’s equipment. Do not compound these problems.

In the interest of justice, you must immediately and unconditionally dismiss all charges against all journalists.

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