National Press Club Condemns Police Targeting of Journalists Covering Los Angeles Protests

WASHINGTON, June 9 — Following multiple disturbing incidents in which Los Angeles police and sheriff’s deputies targeted, injured, and obstructed journalists covering public protests, National Press Club President Mike Balsamo issued the following statement today: “Police cannot pick and choose when the First Amendment applies. Journalists in Los Angeles were not caught in the crossfire — they were targeted. A CNN reporter and crew were forcibly removed from a protest zone in downtown Los Angeles, despite journalists being exempt from dispersal orders under California law, and security personnel working with a CNN team were briefly detained. In another widely viewed incident, an Australian television journalist was struck by a less-lethal round fired by police while reporting live on air. Other journalists were injured, blocked from continuing to report, or denied safe access to observe police activity and arrests. When police target journalists, they are targeting the public’s right to know. With protests continuing in Los Angeles, police must ensure that reporters can safely do their jobs — not obstruct them or place them in harm’s way. The public depends on their reporting to understand what is happening on the ground. The National Press Club is calling on Los Angeles Police Chief Jim McDonnell and Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna to immediately: • Stop targeting, detaining, or obstructing journalists. • Guarantee that journalists can safely observe and report on public demonstrations. • Investigate these incidents and hold those responsible accountable. Thousands of LAPD personnel have received training that includes instruction on how to work safely with journalists during public demonstrations. We urge officers to put that training into practice, and to respect the critical role of the press in keeping the public informed. A journalist struck by a police-fired round while reporting live. Reporters detained for doing their jobs. A free society depends on a free press — and police must respect that. Los Angeles officials must act now. The world is watching.” About the National Press Club Founded in 1908, the National Press Club is the world’s leading professional organization for journalists. Based in Washington, D.C., the Club has nearly 3,000 members representing nearly every major news organization. It hosts newsmakers from around the globe, champions press freedom worldwide through its Press Freedom Center and serves as a hub for journalistic excellence and advocacy. Contact: Bill McCarren, 202-662-7534, [email protected] for the National Press Club Center for Press Freedom