A new news-media coalition led by the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press calls on police and security forces at all levels to respect journalists’ First Amendment right to cover protest demonstrations.
News reporters have been injured and roughed up by law enforcement officers during pro-illegal-immigration protests this month.
In a June 13 letter to U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, California Gov. Gavin Newsom, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, and other officials, the coalition of 60 news outlets and press-freedom groups wrote:
“While we also recognize the important role of law enforcement to protect public safety and crowd control, the right and ability of the press to document law enforcement and other government activity safely and effectively is foundational to self-government and has long been recognized and protected by the courts.”
See also: Spanish-language journalist who documents immigration raids detained for ICE after protest arrest
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