United States: BuzzFeed News Journalist Brianna Sacks detained in Santa Monica

Santa Monica, California, UNITED STATES, June 4 2020- Protests that began in Minnesota on May 26 following the murder of George Floyd have spread across the United States, unleashing another problematic issue: attacks on freedom of the press.

BuzzFeed News reporter Brianna Sacks was detained by Santa Monica police while documenting protests in Santa Monica, California, on May 31, 2020.

Sacks shared the incident on her Twitter page and said the police pulled her out of the crowd and zip-tied her hands despite her explaining that she was a journalist and showing them her badge several times.

Police also pulled me out of the crowd and put me in zip tie cuffs and I was able to convince them to let me go because I was media, which I know is pretty damn lucky pic.twitter.com/EUXQ7T6bYR

— Brianna Sacks (@bri_sacks) June 1, 2020

She was released and had the zip ties removed after 15 minutes but was ordered to leave the scene after her release. 

CFWIJ urges authorities to stop using legal mechanisms as a way of censorship and intimidation and respect the constitutional rights of the people to obtain knowledge through free press.