March 6, 2021 – The charge against Des Moines Register journalist Andrea Sahouri, who was arrested while covering the Black Lives Matters (BLM) protests, has surfaced. The journalist will appear in court on March 8 International Women’s Day, over the charges of “failure to disperse ”and“ interference with official acts.” If convicted, Andrea will face a fine or 30 days' imprisonment, or both penalty. The Coalition For Women In Journalism (CFWIJ) condemns the arrest and the trial against the journalist solely doing her job. We demand the trial be dismissed immediately. 

Des Moines Register reporter Andrea Sahouri was pepper-sprayed and arrested while covering the BLM protest on May 31, 2020, in Des Moines, Iowa. The police attacked the demonstration at Merle Hay Mall with tear gas, and Andrea's partner was injured at the scene. According to Andrea, when she sat down to tend her partner’s injuries, the police approached them, and despite showing her press card repeatedly, the officer pepper-sprayed her twice in the face. A photograph of Andrea, handcuffed, and sitting on the curb came to light, making the police overreach obvious. The journalist was escorted to the Polk County Jail, and charged with “failure to disperse” and “interference with official acts”.

Andrea will appear in the court on International Women’s Day and if her charges are convicted, she will face a fine or sentence of 30 days in prison or both penalties. The Des Moines Register made a statement about Andrea’s starting trial on Monday. They underlined the importance of press freedom. “When reporters are arrested, assaulted or otherwise prevented from doing their jobs, it’s not an attack on just a single journalist or a media company. It’s an attack on everyone's rights to be informed and to hold those in power accountable for their actions.”

The Coalition For Women In Journalism condemns the relentless charges against Andrea and we strongly demand the trial against her must be dismissed. These brutal legal practices are a type of violation of press freedom and freedom of speech. Journalists cannot be prosecuted simply for doing their jobs. Journalism is not a crime.