Blog
ASNE asks Ferguson officials to drop charges against two reporters
- By: ASNE staff
- On: 08/20/2015 10:12:00
- In: Diversity
ASNE joined 38 other media organizations and companies on a letter asking St. Louis County officials to drop charges brought against two reporters arrested during last year's protests in Ferguson, Missouri.
ASNE joined 38 other media organizations and companies on a letter asking St. Louis County officials to drop charges brought against two reporters arrested during last year's protests in Ferguson, Missouri. While sitting in a McDonald's, The Washington Post's Wesley Lowery and The Huffington Post's Ryan Reilly were arrested, an act that we consider an egregious violation of their First Amendment rights.
The letter specifically decries the fact that, even with the passage of an entire year, St. Louis County prosecutors have not seen the error of their ways. The letter, drafted by the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press, not only argues for the charges to be dropped, but also reminds prosecutors and others that the First Amendment demands some leeway to reporters who are doing their jobs, certainly in this situation but even in the midst of a heated situation.