By First Amendment Coalition (FAC) – October 24, 2024
Journalism is not a crime.
This is a message we’ve had to repeat too many times as reporters covering homeless encampment sweeps across California have repeatedly been harassed and threatened with arrest.
In early September, FAC led a coalition of more than 20 press rights and civil liberties organizations to demand California officials respect the role of the press, as “it is in the public’s interest for the press to be able to observe, document and disseminate information on activities as important as the sweeps of homeless encampments, an issue of compelling concern.” We also joined ACLU of Southern California in protesting the Los Angeles Police Department’s treatment of journalist Lexis Olivier-Ray.
Unfortunately, public officials did not get the message. Two journalists — Ray in L.A. and Yesica Prado in Oakland — were handcuffed and put in police cars, halting their reporting (and Prado is facing potential charges). Others, including a veteran Pulitzer Prize-winning photojournalist, have reported being blocked from being able to cover these newsworthy activities.
These barriers to public streets and sidewalks are unacceptable. Journalists must be able to do their jobs while cleanup crews do theirs.
Why The Fight For Court Access is So Important – Even When it Fails
On the morning of October 2, FAC Executive Director David Snyder was in a Solano County Superior Court courtroom to argue that the hearing that was about to take place — in a consequential case about an unreleased report detailing abuse and misconduct by Vallejo Police Department officers — should be open to the press and public.
The problem is, David was never able to make that argument. He and two reporters from Open Vallejo were kicked out of the courtroom while the hearing proceeded in secret. David writes about why this is so problematic — but also why the fight itself is so important.
