US Law Enforcement Are Deliberately Targeting Journalists During George Floyd Protests

Authored by bellingcat.com and submitted by aybbyisok
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Bellingcat has identified and collected multiple instances of US law enforcement deliberately targeting journalists during the protests against the killing of George Floyd.

The arrest of a CNN crew in Minneapolis while broadcasting live on air on May 29th was a shocking event, especially in a country with such strong protections on freedom of speech. However as of the time of writing we have identified at least 50 separate incidents where journalists have been attacked by law enforcement.

In these examples journalists have been shot with rubber bullets, targeted with stun grenades, tear gassed, physically attacked, pepper sprayed and arrested.

Although in some incidents it is possible the journalists were hit or affected accidentally, in the majority of the cases we have recorded the journalists are clearly identifiable as press, and it is clear that they are being deliberately targeted. This pattern of violence against journalists is replicated in several cities, but appears most intense in Minneapolis.

A selection of these incidents can be found below.

Incident 1, May 29: CNN crew arrested in Minneapolis

In the most famous example of violence against the press so far during these protests, a CNN film crew were arrested as they broadcast live on air. There was no legitimate reason for their arrest and they were released about an hour later.

Incident 2, May 29: Wave 3 news crew deliberately targeted with rubber bullets in Louisville, Kentucky

Yet again, a news crew from NBC affiliate Wave 3 broadcasting live on air were deliberately targeted by police firing rubber bullets from a range of a few meters. This crew were very clearly journalists.

Incident 6, May 30: Swedish and Norwegian journalists targeted with rubber bullets in Minneapolis

Swedish and Norwegian journalists who were clearly identifiable as journalists were targeted and hit by rubber bullets. One of the journalists stated:

“I wore two cameras, a press card around my neck, and a helmet and a gas mask. We took pictures and behaved in a different way to the protesters”

Incident 8, May 30: photo-journalist blinded in left eye by less lethal round in Minneapolis

Photo-journalist Linda Tirado was hit in the left eye by a less lethal round while covering events in Minneapolis. She later found out she had been permanently blinded.

Incident 11, May 30: CBS news crew targeted by rubber bullets in Minneapolis

A CBS news crew, who were clearly identifiable as journalists, were targeted by rubber bullets. Their sound engineer was hit.

Incident 12, May 30: group of journalists targeted by less lethal rounds by Minnesota state patrol in Minneapolis

A group of a dozen or so journalists were targeted at close range despite identifying themselves as journalists, as described in the video above. Molly Hennessy-Fiske was struck on the leg by a less lethal round.

Incident 13, May 30: journalist pepper sprayed in the face while being physically detained by police in Minneapolis

Despite clearly identifying himself as press and holding his press card up throughout the incident, Michael Adams was physically detained on the ground and then pepper sprayed.

Incident 14, May 30: Australian News crew detained, handcuffed and searched before being released in Minneapolis

Tim Arvier, a journalist working for 9 News Australia was detained and searched by Minneapolis police. They were then released.

Incident 18, May 30: journalists rushed and arrested by NYPD in New York

Journalist Christopher Mathias at the Huffington Post was arrested by the NYPD in New York. As reported by Phoebe Barghouty, he was credentialed and complying. His press pass appears to be clearly visible around his neck.

Incident 20, May 30: MSNBC film crew targeted with less lethal rounds

Despite clearly being identifiable as journalists, Ali Velshi and his crew were targeted and hit by less lethal rounds.

This selection of incidents demonstrates that law enforcement across multiple cities, but especially in Minneapolis, are knowingly and deliberately targeting journalists with less lethal munitions, arrests and other forms of violence.

This is a selection of the most egregious examples of violence against journalists. Many others can be seen in this thread by the author. Even as this article is being written multiple incidents of similar behaviour are being sent to us. If you have seen law enforcement deliberately targeting journalists, or experienced it yourself, please contact the author through his Twitter or at nick[@]bellingcat.com.

Considering the role of journalists to keep society informed about current events, as well as the strong constitutional protections of a free press in the United States, these actions by law enforcement represent an attack on the freedom of the press.

Journalists should be free to do their jobs without fear of violence or arrest, wherever it may be.

This article has been updated to reflect the number of incidents collected.

Balls_of_Adamanthium on May 31st, 2020 at 15:13 UTC »

Holy fuck now they're targeting and shooting at civilians in their own property.

https://streamable.com/u2jzoo

You can hear the one cop say: "light em up" right before they open fire on the family

This is some next level authoritarian shit.

725484 on May 31st, 2020 at 14:38 UTC »

It is important to see, that attacks on journalists are not an accident or a whoopsie by cops, who fire tear gas into the wrong direction. It's also not just to stop the journalists from broadcasting and talking about the protests (no journalists on the spot make it easier for the police to tell their story), but also a show of force. They're basically saying "see, we can arrest and attack people while the whole country is watching". Just imagine what they'd do to people whom they really don't want around, when nobody is watching.

suikerbruintje on May 31st, 2020 at 14:23 UTC »

Working on a list, please feel free to share it:

firing something at innocent person on their porch:

https://streamable.com/u2jzoo

cop appearing to be enjoying himself today:

https://v.redd.it/jjclrdzp8x151

cop shooting something at guy for saying "fuck you":

https://v.redd.it/zepg0b43ly151

cops breaking supplies for peaceful protestors:

https://v.redd.it/v8x8isj0xz151

nypd driving into protestors:

https://v.redd.it/mztm15kh00251 https://gfycat.com/misguidedrecklesscod

cops shoving an old dude to the ground:

https://v.redd.it/bluggpblrz151

police actively seeking out fights compilation:

https://v.redd.it/m82yxl4qh0251

cop driving at people aggressively on a campus:

https://v.redd.it/ngxvkoro60251

cop shooting rubber bullets at people watching from apartment:

https://mobile.twitter.com/Sarah_Mojarad/status/1266633046591078400?s=09

police shooting the press with rubber bullets:

https://v.redd.it/o3v8ps7rat151

police arresting a CNN reporter:

https://v.redd.it/yce9bpk8mo151

police doing a drive-by pepper spraying

https://mobile.twitter.com/JordanUhl/status/1266193926316228609

photographer being pepper sprayed:

https://i.redd.it/4ix8f3j6dy151.jpg

guy with hands in the air gets his mask ripped off and pepper sprayed:

https://v.redd.it/wlx0gyoe21251

lady who was coming home with groceries who got a rubber bullet to the head:

https://i.redd.it/ns0uj557x0251.jpg

https://mobile.twitter.com/KevinRKrause/status/1266898396339675137

reporter blinded by rubber bullets:

https://mobile.twitter.com/KillerMartinis/status/1266618525600399361?s=19

reporter describes getting tear gassed:

https://mobile.twitter.com/mollyhf/status/1266911382613692422

couple getting yanked out of their car and tased for violating curfew:

https://mobile.twitter.com/GAFollowers/status/1266919104574865410?s=19

young woman gets shoved to the ground by officer:

https://mobile.twitter.com/whitney_hu/status/1266540710188195843?s=20

reporter sheltering in gas station is pepper sprayed: https://twitter.com/MichaelAdams317

reporter trying to get home gets window shot out: https://twitter.com/JaredGoyette/status/1266961243476299778

cops come at a guy for filming a police car burning:

https://twitter.com/johncusack/status/1266953514242228229

photographer arrested:

https://youtu.be/9wgkGLmphLE

Columbus police assaulting protestors:

https://twitter.com/KRobPhoto/status/1266796191469252610

congresswoman sprayed with pepper spray during protest:

https://www.cnn.com/2020/05/30/politics/joyce-beatty-ohio-pepper-sprayed-columbus-protest/index.html

7 protesters fired on with rubber bullets:

https://v.redd.it/tal1ncha4o151

cops pepper spraying a group of protestors without provocation https://v.redd.it/0dxnkso0a1251

young child allegedly pepper sprayed:

https://www.fox10phoenix.com/news/video-shows-milk-poured-over-face-of-child-pepper-sprayed-in-seattle-protest

horse tramples young woman, police investigating: https://www.click2houston.com/news/local/2020/05/30/watch-video-captures-moment-police-horse-tramples-woman-during-houston-rally/

cop pushes protestor with his bike

https://twitter.com/ava/status/1266797973834395648?s=20

Reuters reporters detail being shot at with rubber bullets:

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-minneapolis-police-protest-update/reuters-cameraman-hit-by-rubber-bullets-as-police-disperse-protesters-idUSKBN237050

if you have anything you'd like to add please link it!