Stop the prosecution of journalist Andrea Sahouri

©Credit @Andrea Sahouri

On the night of May 31, police in Iowa pepper sprayed, arrested, and detained Andrea Sahouri, a journalist with the Des Moines Register, while she was reporting on a Black Lives Matter protest. She was arrested and detained despite repeatedly identifying herself as a journalist. Send a message to the prosecutors: Reporting is not a crime. Dismiss all charges against Andrea Sahouri.

Andrea told Amnesty that after police in riot gear showed up and ordered protesters to disperse, people began running in multiple directions. As the police fired tear gas, Andrea ran with protesters into a busy commercial intersection and police charged at them. Even as she kept yelling, “I’m press, I’m press,” she was pepper sprayed on her arms and face twice at close range. The police arrested her and cuffed her in zip ties behind her back, and placed her in a police van. She was cited for failure to disperse and interference with official acts. Out of six reporters in the USA Today network, she is the only one still facing charges.

Amnesty documented Andrea’s case among 125 examples of human rights abuses by U.S. law enforcement officials at Black Lives Matter protests, in our recent report The World is Watching. Amid this surge in violent tactics, we’ve got to speak up for the right to protest — as well as the right to press freedom.

Andrea's trial is scheduled for March 8, 2021 -- International Women's Day. Act Now to apply pressure on Iowa prosecutors!

⬇ Make Your Voice Heard ⬇

County Attorney

John P.

Sarcone

Polk County Justice Center

County Attorney

John P.

Sarcone 2

Polk County Justice Center

Assistant County Attorney

Brad

Kinkade

Polk County Justice Center

Dear Mr. Sarcone:

I write to urge your office to take immediate action to dismiss all charges with prejudice in State of Iowa v. Andrea M. Sahouri, SMAC 388817.

On the evening of May 31, 2020, Ms. Sahouri was covering a protest on assignment for the Des Moines Register. Despite identifying herself as a journalist, she was pepper sprayed, arrested, and detained for several hours.

In order to ensure the right to freedom of expression and the right to freedom of peaceful assembly, members of the media have a right to attend and report on peaceful assemblies, and law enforcement officials have a responsibility not to prevent or obstruct their work. This is not only a human rights obligation, it is also a bedrock of U.S. constitutional law, emanating from the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.

I urge you not move forward with the prosecution of Ms. Sahouri and to dismiss immediately all charges against her with prejudice. Reporting at a protest scene as a working member of the media is not a crime. It is a right that must be protected.

Sincerely,

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