As a union fighting for the rights of media workers, we’re proud to have joined these organizations in calling on California officials to act with transparency and respect for the role of the press in documenting sweeps of homeless encampments:
The First Amendment Coalition, Los Angeles Press Club, and National Press Photographers Association, joined by a coalition of 20 press rights and civil liberties organizations, today call on California officials to operate with maximum transparency and respect the role of the press in observing and documenting sweeps of homeless encampments.
We have serious concerns about the recent law enforcement treatment of journalists in Sacramento and Los Angeles. In at least four documented instances in recent days, journalists faced the threat of arrest for covering homeless encampment sweeps from public sidewalks and streets, even though the journalists did not obstruct law enforcement or interfere with activities. Journalists should be able to do their jobs while government workers do theirs.
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, along with seven other federal Courts of Appeals, found a First Amendment right to record police performing their official duties in public, subject only to reasonable time, place and manner restrictions. And state law is clear that photographing law enforcement by itself is not a crime. Additionally, a federal court struck down a California city’s restrictions on press and public access to sweeps. We also note that the Legislature has passed additional laws to guarantee press access to various restricted areas, demonstrating the importance of press access to newsworthy events.
Beyond these legal protections, 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. Homelessness is one of the biggest stories across the state. With recent legal and political developments triggering a new wave of sweeps, Californians are counting on journalists to cover the story.That’s why we urge cities, counties and state agencies to conduct these activities transparently, and ensure workers and officers in the field respect the First Amendment rights of the press to observe and document government actions in public.
To read the full letter, and a list of the coalition’s asks, head to firstamendmentcoalition.org.
