Journalists snared in arrest net at Occupy Oakland protests

Six journalists were arrested at an Occupy Oakland protest at Oakland City Hall where protesters broke in and vandalized the walls. That brings the total of journalists arrested during the protests to 52. The reporters included those from KGO, an ABC affiliate, Mother Jones and the San Francisco Chronicle. As of now, it is not [...]

Questions arise over blackout protests of online piracy laws

Sites such as Wikipedia, Craigslist and Reddit, who blacked out their websites in protest against the proposed online piracy laws, have come under criticism for abusing their power. “It is an irresponsible response and a disservice to people who rely on them for information (or) use their services,” said former Sen. Chris Dodd, president of [...]

New York Times columnist taken into police custody in Bahrain

The New York Times columnist Nick Kristof and his collegue were tear-gassed and taken into custody by Bahraini police during a protest in Sitra. The police said the detention was for Kristof’s own good. Kristof has been critical of the Bahraini government. -db From The Wrap,  December 9, 2011, by Lucas Shaw. Full story

California: Transit district cell phone policy respects First Amendment

The Bay Area Rapid Transit District adopted a policy that supports First Amendment rights by limiting cell phone service shutdowns to public safety emergencies. The district came under fire in August for shutting down cell phone service to preempt perceived threats during protests in four underground stations. -db From a commentary for the First Amendment [...]

Opinion: Arresting journalists covering Occupy protests an attack on Constitution

The First Amendment establishes a free press with the corollary need for journalists to report freely. When police arrest reporters as they did in Nashville during the Occupy Nashville protests, they are attacking the right of citizens to independent sources on what the government is doing, writes Gene Policinski of the First Amendment Center. -db [...]

Freedom of assembly: Police evict ‘Occupy Oakland’ campers arresting 85

Oakland police swept through a City Hall plaza arresting 85 people protesting economic inequality and corporate greed. The city said it was necessary to maintain public safety and sanitation. The mayor said the protesters had a constitutional right to protest during the day but that injuries and criminal activities in the evening left the city [...]

Journalists settle lawsuit contesting arrests during Republican National Convention

Three journalists arrested during the 2008 Republican National Convention in Minnesota settled a federal lawsuit against the Secret Service and the Minneapolis and St. Paul police departments. The police arrested them along with 40 other journalists covering a protest.The charges against all the journalists were later dropped. -db From The Reporters Committee for Freedom of [...]

FCC looking into cutoff of cell phone service in BART station

The Federal Communications Commission has begun an investigation into the Bay Area Rapid Transit’s suspension of wireless service in commuter stations in response to a threatened protest on August 11. FCC spokesman Neil Grace said the agency is gathering information and hearing from “stakeholders.” The transit district was concerned about unsafe conditions arising from the [...]

Minnesota: Supreme Court decision on Kansas funeral protesters helps animal rights demonstrators

Citing the recent U.S. Supreme Court decision in Synder v. Phelps on the free speech rights to protest at a funeral, a Minnesota state appeals court threw out the conviction of  two animal rights activists for disorderly conduct outside a fur store. The men had chanted loudly protesting the killing of animals. Noting that the [...]

White House denies threats against San Francisco Chronicle

After the San Francisco Chronicle posted a video of a protest at a San Francisco fundraiser for President Barack Obama last week, the White House claimed that the Chronicle reporter violated the rules for pool reporters who are limited to print. The Chronicle reported that the White House ordered their reporter removed from the pool [...]

Reporters barred from covering gay rights protest at White House

In a move contrary to the Obama administration’s open government initiative, police drove reporters away from the White House where they were trying to cover a protest over the military’s “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy. -db Politico April 20, 2010 By Ben Smith Police chased reporters away from the White House and closed Lafayette Park [...]

UC Berkeley student newspaper reporter gets arrested covering protest over tuition increases

A photojournalist for the Daily Californian, the student newspaper at University of California Berkeley, forgot his press pass and followed student protesters onto the freeway where he was arrested for unlawful assembly and obstructing a public place. -db Student Press Law Center March 9, 2010 By Laura Dobler BERKELEY – A student multimedia journalist was [...]

New access to social media may precipitate change in Iran

After the U.S. Treasury Department decided to exclude social media services from sanctions against Iran, there is hope that these services will help Iranians  effect political change. Iran is a special case in that nearly half of the population uses the internet. -db Citizen Media Law Project Commentary March 11, 2010 By Arthur Bright Anyone who [...]