The Nieman Journalism Lab has found that journalists were attacked by police at least 140 times from May 28th through the first week of June. In total, there were more than 300 press freedom violations. Moreover, there were 160 assaults by police, 49 arrests and 43 physical attacks by cops.
Among the most high profile incidents, CNN’s Omar Jimenez was arrested on camera while reporting live from Minneapolis, Minnesota. In Louisville, authorities shot non-lethal bullets at a camera operator. More recently, Andre Lamar of USA Today was arrested on Tuesday while reporting live from protests in Delaware
OUR LATEST DATA AS OF 9:30PM ET JUNE 4
*300+ total press freedom incidents*
49+ arrests
192 assaults (160 by police)
42 equipment/newsroom damageAssault category breakdown:
69 physical attacks (43 by cops)
43 tear gassings
24 pepper sprayings
77 rubber bullets/projectiles— U.S. Press Freedom Tracker (@uspresstracker) June 5, 2020
“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,” Bellingcat states.
A number of media professionals have remained outraged by the treatment of protests in recent weeks. At one point, the Cleveland Police Department allegedly told press that they were not allowed downtown unless they were inside a place of business. Other reports indicate a CNN cameraman was struck upside his head with a baton despite wearing a credential.
