Several journalists were taken to task by the police, Friday, April 16, in the suburbs of Minneapolis (Minnesota, United States), during demonstrations to protest against the death of Daunte Wright, a young black man killed Sunday by a white policewoman.
Nearly 500 people gathered outside the Brooklyn Center police station gates for a sixth straight night of protests. Shortly before the entry into force of a curfew at 10 p.m. (5 a.m. in Paris) decreed by the authorities, the police ordered the crowd by loudspeaker to disperse before deploying several dozen of officers in riot gear. Surrounding the demonstrators who remained there, the police then used pepper spray on several journalists who had clearly identified themselves as such.
The press was also prohibited from remaining in the trap system put in place by the police to document the arrests in progress. To get out of this system, journalists were also required to have their photograph taken, along with their identity documents, by the Minnesota state police.
A restrictive temporary injunction
After a complaint filed by several journalists and a union representing them, a judge had yet issued earlier the same day a restrictive temporary injunction against the police in Brooklyn Center.
According to the judgment made public, the police thus prohibited “To arrest, or threaten to arrest (…) any person whom they know or are right to believe is a journalist”. They are also prohibited from using physical force as well as stun grenades, batons, or even “Chemical agents” like pepper spray against journalists.
“As a result of media comments, and in view of the recent [injonction], the Minnesota State Police will no longer photograph journalists “, reacted Saturday in a statement the Minnesota Operation Safety Net, the grouping of the various police forces which deal with the demonstrations around the trial of Derek Chauvin. Minnesota State Police also claim to have “Provided to its agents” the directives of the injunction issued on Friday, and have them also “Provided to other law enforcement agencies” attending the demonstrations at Brooklyn Center.
US Press Freedom Tracker Deplores “At least seven assaults and three arrests / detentions of journalists covering the protests” since Sunday at Brooklyn Center.