Cases dropped against reporters arrested for covering protests
Photo courtesy of Stephanie Keith
Journalists have the right to cover protests and demonstrations.
Protests are one of the most dangerous places for journalists in America. Journalists are routinely prevented from gathering the news, illegally arrested, and attacked by law enforcement and demonstrators.
Journalists have a First Amendment right to cover public protests. Protecting and expanding that right ensures that the public can learn what’s happening at protests and how they are policed.
Featured Items
-
Official retaliation for “acts of journalism” raises alarms
Discussion of U.S. Press Freedom Tracker’s annual arrest report highlights unusual and concerning abuses of power in 2023
-
Journalists must be allowed to cover protests and their aftermath
From Cop City to the National Gallery of Art, officers continue to ignore the First Amendment and harass journalists covering civil unrest
-
Deferred prosecution agreements silence and extort journalists
Authorities chill press freedom when they condition dropping baseless charges on journalists agreeing to behave and paying fines
-
Finders keepers? Police illegally seize and refuse to return journalists’ equipment
Police seizure of journalists’ equipment outside the newsroom should draw just as much outrage as the raid on the Marion County Record
-
Recording cops up close is not a crime
Requiring observers to keep a distance from police undermines press freedom and violates the First Amendment
-
In allowing NC journalist convictions, judge gets the Constitution backward
No, arresting protesters does not require cops to also arrest journalists
-
DOJ: Dispersing journalists from protests violates First Amendment
Recent report marks welcome change from Justice’s past anti-press positions
-
The NYPD has a serious press freedom problem
Recent arrest of respected photojournalist was just one of many recent abuses
-
FPF statement on conviction of Asheville journalists for recording cops
Judge questions whether reporters were journalists and ignores evidence of retaliation
-
Reject unconstitutional efforts to criminalize legal support numbers
For journalists, legal support numbers are a necessity, not a crime
