Police across California have threatened journalists with arrests for covering evictions of homeless encampments.
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Police across California have threatened journalists with arrests for covering evictions of homeless encampments.
It’s unclear why — journalists aren’t interfering with the evictions. But they are documenting them, and clearly officers don’t want that.
California officials must let journalists cover encampment sweeps
Threats to arrest journalists are the latest in a long line of egregious press freedom violations in the Golden State
Freedom of the Press (freedom.press)
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We joined a coalition of over 20 press freedom and transparency organizations to warn authorities that their own state law supplements constitutional protection of journalists’ right to access restricted areas where newsworthy events occur.
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This is not a new problem.
Police also violated the same law “left and right” earlier this year to arrest journalists covering protests against the Israel-Gaza war on college campuses and elsewhere.
California police violate press freedom law ‘right and left’ during protests
UC Irvine law school professor explains how California law is supposed to protect journalists covering demonstrations
Freedom of the Press (freedom.press)
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The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals — the one with jurisdiction over California – ruled that even if police are entitled to disperse an encampment, they can’t disperse law-abiding journalists.
Even the Justice Department agrees.
California officials must let journalists cover encampment sweeps
Threats to arrest journalists are the latest in a long line of egregious press freedom violations in the Golden State
Freedom of the Press (freedom.press)
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Freedom of the Pressreplied to Freedom of the Press last edited by
“Police in California have struggled repeatedly to cite any legal basis for their actions, because there is none,” writes our Advocacy Director Seth Stern.
California officials must let journalists cover encampment sweeps
Threats to arrest journalists are the latest in a long line of egregious press freedom violations in the Golden State
Freedom of the Press (freedom.press)
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Freedom of the Pressreplied to Freedom of the Press last edited by
Let’s hope the coalition statement gets through to the offending agencies.
Otherwise, Californians will not only miss out on important news, they’ll have to continue spending their money to pay for settlements.
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Read more: California officials must let journalists cover encampment sweeps — By Seth Stern
California officials must let journalists cover encampment sweeps
Threats to arrest journalists are the latest in a long line of egregious press freedom violations in the Golden State
Freedom of the Press (freedom.press)