United States: KPCC reporter Josie Huang arrested with brutal treatment while while covering shooting of Los Angeles sheriff’s deputies in critical condition

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September 15, 2020, Los Angeles, United States -- KPCC reporter Josie Huang was arrested with brutal police violence on September 13 while she was covering the arrest of a protester outside St. Francis Medical Center in Lynwood, where two LA County Sheriff’s deputies were being treated after being shot in their squad car by an as yet unidentified assailant.

The incident Josie was covering occurred outside the St. Francis Medical Center in Lynwood, California, where two deputies had been transported for gunshot wounds to the head while sitting in their patrol car. Josie had just covered a Sheriff’s Department press briefing when a small group of protesters gathered at the ambulance entrance of the hospital.

The law enforcement made an announcement to the protesters outside the hospital and urged them to not block the emergency entrance. They then went onto arresting a male protester as LA Sheriff’s department referred to as “non-compliant and uncooperative”. Josie then ran to the scene to cover the arrest only to find herself pinned to the ground despite clearly yelling out loud that she is a journalist. At the time of her unlawful arrest Josie was also visibly wearing her press credentials, although the Sheriff’s Office later claimed that she"did not identify herself as press and later admitted she did not have proper press credentials on her person".

At the time of the arrest Josie’s phone was turned on and filming. Even as she was being thrown to the ground, Josie Huang was recording the encounter. In a video that continued to film after her phone was knocked from her hand, she can be heard repeatedly identifying herself as a reporter and shouting “KPCC” several times. You also can hear Josie yelling "you're hurting me" and crying out in pain.

Later in the evening Deputy Juanita Navarro of the Sheriff’s Information Bureau confirmed that Josie Huang was taken into custody on suspicion of obstruction of justice by “interfering with a lawful arrest.” which she countered, saying she was just reporting on the arrest of a protester.

Josie, who sustained scrapes, bruises and a blackened eye during the scuffle — was released without bail from the women’s jail at the Century Regional Detention Center at about 4 a.m.

In a statement issued by her network KPCC, the violent behavior was condemned. “These are challenging and stressful times for everyone, but Josie Huang was arrested while doing her job. The charges should be dropped,” KPCC officials said. “Her arrest is the latest in a series of troubling interactions between our reporters and some local law enforcement officers. Journalists provide an essential service, providing fair, accurate and timely journalism and without them, our democracy is at risk.”

In a joint statement, the Asian American Journalists Association Los Angeles chapter and board of directors wrote: “We stand in support of our fellow Asian American journalist. Video taken at the scene shows that Huang was forcefully detained by at least five officers. Her arrest serves as a reminder of the risks that journalists face every day while reporting on the front lines during these uncertain times. We hold the L.A. County Sheriff’s Department accountable to provide answers for the excessive use of force in the detainment of our colleague. The Los Angeles chapter of AAJA demands an investigation and apology for her arrest. We will not idly stand by as the mistreatment of journalists, especially journalists of color, continues by law enforcement.”

The arrest came amid rising tensions between law enforcement and journalists in Los Angeles – especially during protests. Journalists have been injured across the country covering protests this summer. The Coalition For Women In Journalism documented at least 35 threats against women journalists since May. 

Demonstrations sparked across United States after murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis, in the pursuit of justice. With numerous police forces deployed to protest sites, journalists face constant threat of violence, arrest and censorship. Hundreds of journalists have reported to have faced attempts at censorship, verbal attacks, blatant threats and police violence. Hundreds of journalists have been arrested while on duty and black journalists who take the ongoing civil unrest very personally are especially targeted. 

The Coalition For Women In Journalism is appalled by the violent arrest and interference with Josie Huang’s work. Her arrest also comes right ahead of the November 6 elections. We remind authorities that the people’s right to a free press is guaranteed by the First Amendment to the Constitution, which establishes that the press shall be free from government interference in the dissemination of information, ideas and opinions. We demand that a thorough investigation is conducted by those who violently arrested Josie Huang with false claims of “interfering with arrest” and “not having press credentials” which are easily falsified by video footage.