Activism

Reporters Arrested and Tear-Gassed in Ferguson, MO

As police forces escalate their paramilitary forces in Ferguson, MO, it has been confirmed that two journalists have been arrested in a McDonald’s. Wesley Lowery (Washington Post) and Ryan Reilly (Huffington Post) were both arrested and subsequently let go with no charges or explanation of why they were detained:

https://twitter.com/WesleyLowery/statuses/499716854169235456

https://twitter.com/WesleyLowery/statuses/499717441472057345

https://twitter.com/WesleyLowery/statuses/499717442650652672

Both reporters spoke with MSNBC regarding their arrests this evening. Reilly states that the arresting officer “slammed my head against the glass purposefully… and then sarcastically apologized for it.” Lowery told Rachel Maddow that his press Washington Post press credentials were visible throughout the entire exchange, prompting Washington Post Executive Editor Marty Baron to issue a statement stating,  “We are appalled by the conduct of police officers involved.” Later in the evening, another Huffington Post reporter was hit with tear gas:

https://twitter.com/zachdcarter/status/499734299013566464

This Week In Blackness’ Elon James reports that police were prepared to shoot him:

https://twitter.com/elonjames/status/499736337042247682

While both CNN & MSNBC are finally covering the events in Ferguson, the most up to date information is coming from social media. If you’d like to stay  up to date with events as they transpire, Garance Franke-Ruta has created a Twitter list of reporters on the ground in Ferguson and a Live Stream is currently being broadcast (Update: There is another stream here).

You can take action by donating to Michael Brown’s family’s legal defense fund, participating in a National Moment of Silence protest in your area, or contacting Missouri Governor Jay Nixon at 573-751-3222. Know of other resources or ways to help? Leave them in the comments.

Courtney Caldwell

Courtney Caldwell is an intersectional feminist. Her talents include sweary rants, and clogging your social media with pictures of her dogs (and occasionally her begrudging cat). She's also a political nerd, whose far-left tendencies are a little out of place in the deep red Texas.

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6 Comments

      1. The sad thing is, there was no rioting, only peaceful protests, until the cops showed up looking like they were cos-playing G.I. Joe.

        If I was gathering with a group of rightly pissed people and the Gestapo decided to tear-gas me I might be inclined to throw shit too.

        And your link on the other page is eyeopening and really says it all, they are better armed then soldiers on patrol.

        I live in small town that is actually bigger then Furgeson (though it’s not a suburb), maybe I need to make a trek down to police HQ and ask them what sort of goodies they have in store “just in case”. No, better not put myself at the top of the shot-him-first list.

        1. Somebody suggested going to your local council meeting and asking about the goodies (and how the cops intend to use them). On a weekly basis. Until you get a satisfactory response.

          About throwing shit, if it’s the one I’m thinking of, it was a protestor throwing BACK a teargas canister.

          I’d love to know what a real soldier like Greenstone thinks of this…over and above the immediate human tragedy, there are times when one fool with a gun can change the course of history.

  1. It’s officially a no-fly zone now. Do whatever to keep journalists out, I guess.

    I just wonder where the teabaggers are. Here is actual proof of an oppressive government.

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