GIJN Condemns Attacks on Journalists Covering US Protests

The Global Investigative Journalism Network condemns attacks by law enforcement on journalists in the US covering protests of the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

“The attacks on, and intimidation of, journalists legitimately covering protests and social unrest in the US are unconstitutional and unlawful,”  stated the executive committee of the GIJN Board of Directors on behalf of the organization’s full board and member organizations. “These attacks, whether from local law enforcement, National Guard or federal authorities, threaten the very core of a free and democratic society. These attacks must stop, and any incidents must be rigorously investigated.”

The Committee to Protect Journalists, along with GIJN member Bellingcat and other independent monitors, have documented dozens of incidents across the United States in which law enforcement have targeted clearly-identified journalists and shot them with rubber bullets, used pepper spray against them, battered them and arrested them without cause.

GIJN, a global network of non-profit investigative newsrooms and professional organizations, urges all journalists covering US protests to document and report police abuses directed at news workers. GIJN also urges journalists to make use of tip sheets and other resources on safety covering protest and crisis, including those from:

• Global Investigative Journalism Network
• Committee to Protect Journalists
• Dart Center for Journalism & Trauma