The Chicago Headline Club is deeply troubled by the arrests of Chicago-based journalist Omar Jimenez, producer Bill Kirkos and photojournalist Leonel Mendez while covering the unrest in Minneapolis following the death of George Floyd, a black man who was in police custody.
The arrest was unjustified and we join other journalism organizations in strongly condemning the Minnesota State Patrol’s actions. We also urge an independent investigation into the Minnesota State Police’s actions. This isn’t the first time journalists have been arrested while covering protests.
Press freedom is a building block of our democracy and we urge police departments to honor the First Amendment rights of working journalists.