(Brooklyn Center) Police arrested several journalists Friday in the suburbs of Minneapolis, USA, during demonstrations to protest the killing of Don Wright, a young black man who was killed by a white policeman on Sunday.
Nearly 500 people had gathered at the gates of the Brooklyn Police Station, about ten kilometers from Minneapolis, for the sixth consecutive evening of demonstrations after the death of Dawn Wright on Sunday, who was killed during a regular traffic control.
Also underway in this large city in the north of the United States the trial of Derek Chauvin, the former white police officer accused of killing George Floyd last year.
Shortly before the curfew announced by the authorities at 10 p.m. came into effect, the police ordered the crowd by loudspeaker to disperse before dozens of riot police officers were deployed.
Photo Shendan Khanna, Agence France-Presse
Surrounding the protesters who remained there, the police then used pepper spray on several journalists who clearly identified themselves as such.
The press was also prevented from remaining in the police trap system documenting the ongoing arrests.
To break out of this system, journalists have also been required to have their photos taken, along with their identity documents, by the Minnesota State Police.
After a complaint filed by several journalists and their union, the judge had earlier in the day issued a temporary restraining order against police at the Brooklyn Center.
According to the ruling, which was publicly posted, the police are thus prohibited “from arresting or threatening to arrest.” […] Anyone they know or have reason to believe is a journalist. ”
They are also prohibited from using physical force, as well as stun grenades, batons or even “chemical agents” such as pepper spray against journalists.
“After media comments, and given the recent (injunction), Minnesota State Police will no longer photograph journalists,” it responded Saturday in a statement to the Minnesota Operation Safety Network, a set of various orders for forces dealing with demonstrations around the Derek Chauvin trial.
The Minnesota State Police also claims to have “provided their officers” with court order directions issued on Friday, and also “provided them with other law enforcement entities” present at the protests at the Brooklyn Center.
The US Press Freedom Tracker has denounced “at least 7 assaults and 3 arrests / arrests of journalists covering protests” since Sunday in the Brooklyn Center.
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