United States: CFWIJ condemns the attacks on journalists, including Katie G. Nelson, by Minneapolis police

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Credits: Sowetan Live

Credits: Sowetan Live

May 30, 2020- Katie G. Nelson, a freelance journalist, was covering the George Floyd protests in Minneapolis when her colleague Mike Shum was struck by two projectiles launched by law enforcement. Though the journalist was not seriously injured, the attack left Mike with bruising on his foot. Despite the injuries and direct police assaults on journalists, both Nelson and Mike persisted with their coverage of the demonstrations. CFWIJ is utterly dismayed by the hostile treatment journalists must endure while performing their job. 

Nelson was reporting from the fifth precinct of Minneapolis after the curfew came into effect. She described the experience of how police asked the bunch of journalists to disperse and then moved forward. The press were cornered in a street when police started using flash grenades and tear gas. They were pepper-sprayed, even after identifying themselves as journalists. Thankfully Nelson had her mask on, but she had to escort a colleague without  protective gear.

Later that day, while covering the demonstrations, police fired bullets at Nelson’s car, and her colleague pushed against a wall in a separate incident. Both journalists were reporting for The New York Times at the time of the incidents.

Several journalists had to leave their position after the police advanced, and they found themselves trapped. Nelson recounted the choice of either retreating to tear gas-filled streets or climb a wall. Several journalists were seen climbing the wall in a video posted by NBC journalist and producer Ed Ou on his Twitter account.

At this point, Nelson’s colleague Mike was pushed from behind by police,  imparting superficial injuries while he was trying to protect his camera. Nelson said they suffered horrific terror once again while reporting from the fifth precinct police station when an officer standing 50 feet away pointed a projectile at them. She frantically yelled her identity as the press. Given their large cameras and protective vests, it should have been clear to police that they were journalists.

Katie shared on her Twitter account that she was still in shock by how her friends and colleagues were attacked by Minnesota law enforcement during the coverage of the George Floyd demonstrations. Throughout the protests, it was clear that the authorities had no regard for media and press freedom.

Katie G. Nelson, along with her colleague, has joined the lawsuit against the city of Minnesota and Minneapolis state officials for how the journalists were treated during the George Floyd protests. ACLU of Minnesota has filed a class-action lawsuit against Minnesota and Minneapolis officials for the treatment journalists suffered while on the job.

The Coalition For Women In Journalism condemns the assaults on Katie G. Nelson and her colleagues by state police. We demand the city of Minnesota and the affiliated authorities  make sure that no journalist suffers such hostility in the future.