- Joined
- Jun 18, 2018
- Messages
- 78,208
- Reaction score
- 82,250
- Gender
- Male
- Political Leaning
- Progressive
"During the current Los Angeles protests against ICE immigration raids and the use of the National Guard in Los Angeles, journalists and photographers are reporting that they are being deliberately targeted by law enforcement. The Associated Press reported that by June 10, over two-dozen journalists had been arrested or "roughed up" by law enforcement. The Los Angeles Press Club documented more than 30 incidents affecting reporters, including shootings with rubber bullets and tear gas attacks .
The Closer to the Edge Substack is keeping a close eye on reporters being targeted by the LA Police. On June 13, Closer to the Edge noted that, “in the middle of [the protests are] journalists. Walking. Filming. Getting hit. Again. Because it turns out nothing makes you a bigger threat to authoritarian theater than a working microphone and a record button.”
...Attacking reporters and photographers is not a new phenomenon. Over the years, police departments in the U.S. have increasingly been targeting journalists and photographers during protests, with incidents escalating notably during the 2020 George Floyd protests and continuing into 2025. The U.S. Press Freedom Tracker documented over 100 arrests and 114 physical attacks on journalists during this period."
Link
Authoritarians do not like accountability.
The Closer to the Edge Substack is keeping a close eye on reporters being targeted by the LA Police. On June 13, Closer to the Edge noted that, “in the middle of [the protests are] journalists. Walking. Filming. Getting hit. Again. Because it turns out nothing makes you a bigger threat to authoritarian theater than a working microphone and a record button.”
...Attacking reporters and photographers is not a new phenomenon. Over the years, police departments in the U.S. have increasingly been targeting journalists and photographers during protests, with incidents escalating notably during the 2020 George Floyd protests and continuing into 2025. The U.S. Press Freedom Tracker documented over 100 arrests and 114 physical attacks on journalists during this period."
Link
Authoritarians do not like accountability.