Statement from Martin Baron, executive editor of The Washington Post, on the arrest of reporter Wesley Lowery in Ferguson, Mo., on Wednesday.
Wesley has briefed us on what occurred, and there was absolutely no justification for his arrest.
He was illegally instructed to stop taking video of officers. Then he followed officers’ instructions to leave a McDonald’s — and after contradictory instructions on how to exit, he was slammed against a soda machine and then handcuffed. That behavior was wholly unwarranted and an assault on the freedom of the press to cover the news. The physical risk to Wesley himself is obvious and outrageous.
After being placed in a holding cell, he was released with no charges and no explanation. He was denied information about the names and badge numbers of those who arrested him.
We are relieved that Wesley is going to be OK. We are appalled by the conduct of police officers involved.
Thank goodness we have the First Amendment protecting freedom of the press. We'd be in serious trouble if this right were violated.
ReplyDeleteOh wait...
Steve, I think they are pushing this a step too far. Even pro-government socialists are outraged. They're too ignorant to understand WHY they are outraged, but this issue is quickly coming to a head.
DeleteIt's amusing to see all the OUTRAGE!!! emerge from the left-wing dopes, who have tirelessly cheered on the fascist police state for decades. But because they do not understand cause and effect, and therefore can't connect the dots, they will, as usual, find a way to blame this situation on Fox News, the NRA, the Tea Party, and whatever other groups they routinely vilify for all the world's problems. In fact I've already seen some of this.
DeleteI'd like to tell them, "Congratulations for realizing America is a fascist police state. You've only been warned about this for the last 20-30 years, while laughing everyone warning you off as a 'tin foil hat conspiracy theorist.' If you want to really know how bad it is, read Will Grigg."
But that would do no good. These types of dim bulbs will be pointing and laughing at 'tin foil hat conspiracy theorists' as they're being loaded onto the train to be sent to their new FEMA camp homes. They are so utterly f'ing clueless.
Aw the irony... A boot licking state apologist gets some of the very same treatment his employer promotes. Now if it were a CIA goon, the Langley paper would have undoubtedly defended the brutality.
ReplyDeleteTo paraphrase Martin Baron's statement:
ReplyDeleteI'm shocked, SHOCKED, that a police force in America seems to be a completely unaccountable, militarized force.
Geez, again the ghost of Claude Rains' character arises...