Press Freedom

Question and Answers

Q:
What kinds of threats are journalists facing?
A: Law enforcement often targets, assaults and arrests journalists who are covering protests, and politicians often work to chill free expression via threats and intimidation.
Q:
Why is this a racial justice issue?
A: From graphic up-to-the-minute documentations of police brutality to coverage of protests, independent journalism is essential to telling our stories and effecting change. We can protect our communities and our voices by standing up for the First Amendment.
Q:
Do I have the right to record interactions with the police?
A: You have a constitutionally protected right to film and record law enforcement. As we’ve seen with protests and all-too-common police shootings of unarmed Black people, cellphone cameras are critical tools for holding law enforcement accountable. Our right to record is essential to our ability to connect, communicate and organize for justice.