Letter Protests Arrest of Journalists; Excessive Force
Oct. 25, 2017 – The NewsGuild-CWA has joined the Committee to Protect Journalists and 17 other organizations in writing to the mayor of St. Louis to express concern about the arrest and mistreatment of journalists covering protests in the city in recent weeks.
The letter notes that at least 10 journalists have been arrested while covering frequent protests following the acquittal of a white police officer charged with murder in the 2011 shooting death of a black man. The verdict, issued by a judge, was handed down on Sept. 15.
Reporters, photographers and videographers who identified themselves as journalists and showed press credentials were arrested nonetheless, the letter to Mayor Lyda Krewson notes, and several journalists report that they were pepper-sprayed, cursed at, mocked, and assaulted by the police who arrested them.
The letter urges the mayor to “include a thorough consideration of the impact of law enforcement actions on freedom of the press,” in investigations of complaints and lawsuits about the police department’s response to protests.
At least five journalists, including a NewsGuild member, were among approximately 120 people arrested Sept. 17. At least five other journalists, including another NewsGuild member, were arrested Oct. 3.
Following the second set of arrests, the Guild said Mayor Lyda Krewson and acting Police Commissioner Lawrence O’Toole must be held accountable for the arrest of journalists covering public protests in the city.
“Arresting journalists deprives the people of their right to know what is happening in their community and in the world,” said NewsGuild President Bernie Lunzer. “The arrests and harassment must stop.”
The Guild and press freedom organizations are asking supporters to show support on Twitter, Facebook and other social media outlets.
“All of the journalists arrested or assaulted were doing their job – one that often brings them to the scene of protests and law enforcement operations for the vital role of documenting these events for the public,” the letter to the mayor notes.
Press freedom groups have contacted the City Councillor’s Office to urge prosecutors not to go forward in pressing charges. The office told the Committee to Protect Journalists that the charges are under advisement and that prosecutors have a year to decide whether to proceed.
“This is not the first time that journalists have faced arrest and assault in the greater St. Louis area,” the letter notes. “According to the Freedom of the Press Foundation, around two dozen reporters were arrested in protests in Ferguson, Missouri, in the fall of 2014. While these arrests fell outside city bounds, this combined legacy is a troubling signpost for journalists’ safety in the St. Louis area. It is more important than ever that the city take concrete steps to show its commitment to press freedom.
“Journalists should not have to fear for their physical well-being at the hands of law enforcement when they cover newsworthy events. We ask you to conduct a thorough examination of cases in which reporters were assaulted or arrested and discipline individual officers found to have behaved unacceptably. We hope the investigation will also spur proactive steps, such as increased training for police officers and clear, enforced policies on how to deal with the press during protests.”
On Sept. 17:
- NewsGuild member Michael Faulk was arrested and taken into custody on Sept. 17. Faulk, a reporter for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, alleges that police officers knocked him to the ground and pepper-sprayed him in the face, and an officer used his foot to push Faulk’s head to the pavement, according to a letter Faulk’s attorney sent to the mayor. He was held for 13 hours before he was released.
- Documentary filmmakers Drew Burbridge and Jennifer Burbridge were arrested. Drew Burbridge has filed a lawsuit alleging that police beat him and repeatedly pepper-sprayed him in the face.
- Independent livestreamer Jon Ziegler was arrested. Ziegler told press freedom groups police officers pepper-sprayed him in the face and pushed his head to the ground before arresting him. He was arrested again on Oct. 3.
- Getty Images photographer Scott Olson was arrested.
Arrested on Oct. 3:
- NewsGuild member Al Neal from People’s World.
- Ty Bayliss and Jordan Chariton of The Young Turks.
Young Turks cameraman Ty Bayliss is arrested. - Independent journalists Aminah Ali and Daniel Shular. Shular was detained for 18 hours even though he did not hear an order to disperse, and he was never told he was under arrest or read a Miranda warning, according to his lawyer.
At least two journalists – Fusion videographer Chris Burke and University of Missouri student journalist Davis Winborne – allege that police pepper-sprayed protesters and journalists indiscriminately.
The US Press Freedom Tracker is a repository of information about threats to press freedom. The NewsGuild is a sponsoring organization.