NWU Joins Coalition Urging Officials to Respect Role of Press in LA Fires

NWU’s Executive Committee voted Friday to join 20 other press rights and civil liberties organizations in signing an open letter to California law enforcement officials, calling on them to honor the state law that permits press to enter closed areas impacted by the LA fires. 

“We understand and empathize with the difficult task firefighters and first responders are facing, and deeply appreciate their service,” the letter reads. “But we write because we have concerns about recent treatment of journalists who are covering the devastation with professionalism and compassion.

“We have learned of troubling instances where journalists have been illegally turned away from checkpoints and faced intimidation tactics and other interference with their newsgathering. These issues have occurred at numerous locations, across several days and involve multiple local and state agencies. Journalists must be allowed to do their jobs while first responders do theirs.” 

NWU stands in solidarity with our LA journalist colleagues who are keeping the public informed on this ongoing crisis. Read the full letter here.

We are also gathering a rolling list of member-shared resources to support our members and comrades in LA. If you have a resource to add to this list, email comms@nwu.org.

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