Abuse of reporters covering demonstrations
Rebecca Rosen Lum
To our media friends,
Over the past few days, a series of demonstrations have happened in the City of Berkeley in response to recent incidents in Missouri and New York. The size and scope of the demonstrations have presented a challenging circumstance for Law Enforcement, Journalists, and the community as a whole.
With its rich history in the Free Speech movement, the City of Berkeley is and remains committed to allowing the public to peacefully assemble. Unfortunately, some of the participants in these demonstrations have resorted to acts of violence and destruction. These acts of violence, oftentimes, lead to a chaotic environment for officers as well. Because of this, it can be difficult for line officers to quickly differentiate demonstrators from media journalist who need access.
We value your safety as you cover important events in our community. We want you to be safe while you do your work. With this in mind, the Berkeley Police Department would like you to keep these personal safety measures in mind as you cover future demonstrations:
· Officers in the area may not be able to ensure your safety.
· As much as possible, have your media credentials clearly visible for officers.
· Try to cover the event from the side of any established police lines.
· If that is not possible, ask an officer to be let through the police line to cover the incident from behind the police officers. For even better results, try to ask a police supervisor (like the officers with stripes on their upper arm sleeves or bars on their collar).
· If you experience difficulty getting the access and freedom of movement you require, contact the Department’s Public Information Officer so that we can help.
· If you are photographing or video recording in the midst of violent and assaultive activity, consider moving away from the situation and getting to a safer location.