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Protesters Target Bloomberg's House Today To Protest NYPD's Treatment Of Press
By
John Del Signore
Published Jan 6, 2012
Modified Jan 6, 2012
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By
John Del Signore
Published Jan 6, 2012
Modified Jan 6, 2012
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As we mentioned last week, a group of activists (and possibly reporters) are planning to protest outside Mayor Bloomberg's Upper East Side townhouse (or as close as they can get) today, to express their dissatisfaction with the NYPD's recent treatment of journalists covering Occupy Wall Street.
The demonstration comes on the heels of a great video showing NY Times Metro reporter blasting a cop for threatening to revoke his press credentials on New Year's Eve. Here's a much better video clip of the altercation, just sent to us today. Moynihan locks horns with the cop at the 6:15 mark, and it's pretty terrific:
After threatening to confiscate Moynihan's credentials (which are begrudgingly issued by the NYPD to media outlets only after a Kafkaesque process), the reporter replies, "Don't abuse your badge! You're threatening me for what? This is a public place! I don't take orders. I don't work for the police department." It's telling that the officer fires back, "Do what you're told. You got your badge from us, right? That's who you got it from." The implication, of course, is that the NYPD can restrict the press at will, withholding access and punishing reporters they don't like. Moynihan, you may recall, was arrested while covering a Critical Mass ride in 2005.
In an article today, Times columnist Michael Powell writes, "In the last few weeks, the police have gone after reporters working for large newspapers and the vibrant online press; the cops have pushed, punched and threatened reporters with suspension of police press cards. In late November, Commissioner Raymond W. Kelly tried to check such behavior. But his orders — to treat the press with respect — often appear honored in the breach."
At today's demonstration, organized by John Penley, an activist and former freelance photojournalist, "a First Amendment three-ring circus" is promised. Penley says, "Attacks on the press have gotten so numerous and severe that several journalist organizations have formed the Coalition for the First Amendment. Letters of protest by journalist organizations have been ignored by police. Attacks on members of the media continue to flourish under the mayor and his police commissioner despite their promises to the contrary."
A spokesman for Mayor Bloomberg declined to comment. Check back later for more coverage of today's demonstration.
Tagged
colin moynihan
first amendment
freedom of the press
nypd
occupy wall street
John Del Signore
Originally from the Albany area, John Del Signore has called NYC home since 1995. In addition to his thousands of meticulously-crafted bespoke blog posts for Gothamist, his writing has also been published in The Awl, Deadspin, The Nervous Breakdown, and performed at The Brick Theater in Brooklyn.
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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