While Covering Unrest, Some Journalists are Harassed or Handcuffed

Press freedom violations have been a side effect of the nationwide unrest in the wake of George Floyd's death. Law enforcement attempting to keep the peace have at times arrested or shot rubber bullets at reporters, while angry mobs have harassed and attacked journalists in other cases. CNN reporter Omar Jimenez's arrest in Minneapolis was the focus of significant coverage. Some voices looked at the apparent consensus among media members, regardless of political bias, that the arrest of Jimenez and any similar moves to diminish press freedom are unacceptable. Conversely, one report from a right-rated outlet concentrated on apparent discrepancies in how press groups responded to the arrest of Jimenez versus the harassment of a Fox News reporter in Washington D.C.