United States: Journalist Kaitlin Rust was fired by an LMPD officer while reporting on protests in the USA on the frontlines

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Louisville, Kentucky, UNITED STATES, May 31, 2020 --- WAVE 3 News reporter and photographer Kaitlin Rust were struck by pepper balls reportedly fired by an LMPD officer during a protest in Louisville. CFWIJ condemns the use of disproportionate force against the press by the police. We are concerned about the targeting of women reporters covering a critical national story in the democratic country. 

LMPD spokeswoman Jessie Halladay said that officers do not use rubber bullets with a statement. “We believe it was one of our SRT officers; we are still trying to identify which officer,” Halladay said. 

“Targeting the media is not our intention. There was a lot going on last night, and to be fair to both the officer and to Kaitlin, we need to take a deeper look at what happened and what prompted that action. So we have said that we will do that and if there needs to be discipline we will address it.”

WAVE 3 News General Manager Ken Selvaggi issued a statement after Halladay’s comment saying, “We strongly condemn the actions of the LMPD officer who tonight repeatedly fired at and hit our reporter and cameraman, both of whom were courageously and lawfully covering breaking news in their community. There is simply no justification for the Louisville police to wantonly open fire, even with pepper balls, on any journalists under any circumstances.”

“When the officer fired at Ms. Rust and Mr. Dobson, the two had been following police instructions, were standing behind the police line when they were fired upon, and were not disrupting or otherwise interfering with law enforcement.” Ken Selvaggi said.

Kaitlin was Live on air Friday night. She is heard screaming first.

"I'm getting shot!" she said.

"Katie, are you OK?" asked an in-studio anchor.

"Rubber bullets!" Kaitlin said. "Rubber bullets! It's OK. It's those pepper bullets."

Who were officers aiming at, the anchor asked.

"At us," she replied. "Directly at us."

Demonstrations sparked across the United States after murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis, in the pursuit of justice. With numerous police forces are 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 civil unrest very personal are especially targeted. CFWIJ follows the events closely with great concern.