United States: CFWIJ condemns the online troll campaigns against journalist Samantha-Jo Roth.

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January 7, 2021— Samantha-Jo Roth, a correspondent for NY1 & Spectrum 24 hour news station, was harassed online for a tweet she posted on the day of the Capitol Hill insurrection. In her tweet, Samantha stated that she would report the online harassment to Twitter and law enforcement. CFWIJ offers full solidarity and support to Samantha-Jo and condemns the bullying she faced online.
Samantha-Jo Roth shared the concerns about the situation of the media during the Capitol Hill insurrection in Washington. She said on her Twitter account, “Murder the media was carved into the U.S. Capitol today. There are no words to express how disturbing this is. A free press that is able to hold those in power accountable is what makes our democracy work. I’m proud to be a journalist and I’m thankful for my colleagues at Capitol Hill.”

Later on, the journalist shared she received several threats for her tweet describing the precarious position of the press during the Capitol Hill riots. Samantha tweeted, “I've received several threats in response to this tweet I sent. If you threaten me, I will most certainly report you to Twitter, law enforcement and will block you.”

Several women journalists were abused, threatened, and even arrested on January 7 while covering the chaos at the Capitol. Many of them have shared their experiences, including Zoeann Murphy and Whitney Leaming, video journalists for The Washington Post, who were arrested briefly while reporting, despite showing their press credentials. 

Inside the Capitol Hill building, Erin Schaff, a photojournalist for The New York Times, shared her harrowing experience. First she was pushed by rioters who snatched her press card, followed by security officers holding her at gunpoint when she could not prove her identity. She was saved by fellow journalists that recognized her.

Sara Gentzler, a reporter for The Olympian, also faced violent attacks from a man carrying a knife and a gun. The attacker wanted to take away the phone, but somehow Sara was able to record the incident and kept her phone. Sarah tweeted the video about this unfortunate incident.

The Coalition For Women In Journalism condemns the physical, verbal, and online harassment of journalists covering the Capitol Hill insurrection. We urge law enforcement agencies to prioritize the safety of journalists and arrest the perpetrators. We offer our support to all the dedicated women journalists fighting tenaciously to get the job done.