Occupy Oakland Reporters Arrested

Harrison 1
Civil Rights
Journalists -- Myself Included -- Swept Up in Mass Arrest at Occupy Oakland
Mother Jones  -- Gavin Aronsen -- Jan 29. 2012
2.5 pages

The occupy movement has been gaining traction all over the nation. The participants of this movement are voicing their distraught over the extreme division of wealth  in this country. Demonstrations have been staged all over the country, starting on Wall street, and have moved all across to the west coast. Recently in Oakland many demonstrations have ended with violence and mass arrests. On January 28, one particular demonstration was cut short by local police. Although theoretically demonstrators should have the right to peacefully assemble and display their opinions, police use loopholes to rationalize arrests. If one of the demonstrators turns violent, then everyone is considered dangerous. If the police issue an order to disperse (without warrant mind you) they will later make arrests because the demonstrators didn't follow the officer's orders. A group of protesters in Oakland was put under these circumstances late that Saturday evening, the police started zip tying everyone. A few of the people present, however, were protected from arrest by law. They were reporters, and are protected under a law which states that news persons at the state of a protest may not be arrested for trying to ascertain their story or being there. Even after their reporter badges (issued by the police department) were shown, they were still arrested. This is an irrefutably irresponsible act perpetrated by the peace officers. Some officers mentioned to the reporters that the arrest was ultimately for their own good, much to the dismay of the reporters it may have been, but that does not give the police officers the right to arrest. It's bad enough that the protester's right to assemble is being restricted, but now the reporter's right to free speech is also under attack.