Journalists allege police harassment at Minnesota protests

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Associated Press

TODD RICHMOND,
Associated Press
April 17, 2021
Updated: April 17, 2021 2:45 p.m.

Some journalists covering protests over the police fatal shooting of Daunte Wright, .a 20-year-old Black man, in suburban Minneapolis say officers have harassed and assaulted them despite a federal order to leave them alone.

U.S. District Judge Wilhelmina Wright issued a temporary restraining order Friday prohibiting police at the protests in Brooklyn Center from arresting journalists or using force against them, including flash-bang grenades, nonlethal projectiles, pepper spray and batons, unless they know the person committed a crime

. . .

But USA Today videographer Jasper Colt tweeted that he and other reporters were forced to lie on their stomachs Friday evening while police photographed them and their credentials before letting them leave.

“We condemn the actions of the police in Brooklyn Center in the strongest possible terms,” USA Today Publisher Maribel Perez Wadsworth said in an email to The Associated Press on Saturday. “Requiring journalists to lie prone on the ground and photographing their credentials are purposeful intimidation tactics. To be clear, we will not be intimidated or deterred in fulfilling our First Amendment right and responsibility to hold power to account in our reporting.”

Read more: https://www.chron.com/news/article/Journalists-allege-police-harassment-at-Minnesota-16108705.php

[Mary in S. Carolina]

1. Should we not

Last edited Sat Apr 17, 2021, 10:42 PM - Edit history (1)

ask for of every Brooklyn Center Officer's picture and their home address? What could possibly go wrong?

[wnylib]

2. Maybe the organizations that these journalists

work for need to file suits against the police.

[Roy Rolling]

3. This is Rich

We need a judge to demand second-amendment abusers stop attacking first-amendment-protected journalists who publish the abuse.

[mysteryowl]

4. Gov. Tim Walz calls assault, detention of journalists covering protests 'unacceptable'

Journalists covering protests in Brooklyn Center last week following the fatal police shooting of Daunte Wright say they have been assaulted, pepper-sprayed and detained by law enforcement officers despite showing their credentials and a Friday court order barring officers from arresting or using force against members of the media.

In an interview Saturday, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz said these incidents are "unacceptable in every circumstance." He said law enforcement leaders will communicate to officers guarding the Brooklyn Center police headquarters that they must follow the court order and let journalists do their jobs.
[snip]
On Friday, a federal judge issued a temporary restraining order barring officers from arresting or using force — such as less-lethal projectiles, pepper spray and batons — against journalists.

https://www.startribune.com/gov-tim-walz-calls-assault-detention-of-journalists-covering-protests-unacceptable/600047293/

The article is worth reading. The journalists share their personal experiences of assault, chemicals, being taken down to the ground and detained. It is really saying something when a judge grants a restraining order - against police!!

[csziggy]

5. It's something judge grants a restraining order - against police!! And they defy it!

Every single cop who disobeyed that restraining order should be charged with contempt of court - and removed from the police force.

I'm hoping the judge does that first thing tomorrow morning - but I will not hold my breath.

[mysteryowl]

6. It will never happen. Not a chance.

They get away with murder, they will get away with this.

I appreciate how you think though.

[csziggy]

7. I think I know why the police ignored a court order

Judge Wilhelmina M. Wright
https://mncourts.libguides.com/Wright

[LetMyPeopleVote]

8. From Reliable Sources

Link to tweet

[OldBaldy1701E]

9. I have a problem

I was not in favor of moving here (Minneapolis). Once a year had passed, I knew I did not want to be here. Since then, I have developed a strong dislike of here. Now? I am scared to be here. I want to get out of here. I cannot, thanks to no money and no means. My life is over if I leave, but it is looking more and more like it may be over if I stay. Horrifying.