Many news media members — print and broadcast — got roughed up during the past few days as protests blossomed around the country, notes Grumpy Editor.
One organization tallied 230 incidents targeting journalists since the death of George Floyd in Minnesota. They were shot at, manhandled, gassed or arrested while covering demonstrations.
Despite identifying himself and crew as media, NBC host Ali Velshi was hit in the leg by a rubber bullet in Minneapolis. Also in that city, Star Tribune reporter Chris Serres twice was ordered at gunpoint to hit the ground. Serres wrote that he was warned “if I moved an inch I’d be shot” and "waving a press badge made no difference.”
In St. Petersburg, Florida, two Tampa Bay Times journalists were detained by police.
With the protests, there were other journalist injuries reported in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Washington, Philadelphia, San Diego, Pittsburgh, Denver and Detroit, among other cities.
A freelance photographer was shot in the face by police using rubber bullets in New York.
Injuries were not limited to American journalists. An Australian reporter and cameraman were assaulted by U.S. Park police at a Washington protest.
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