Baltimore Police Assault Several Journalists During Freddie Gray Protests
Last week I wrote about the arrest of journalist and police watchdog Baltimore Spectator Dr. James MacArthur - littlegreenfootballs.com
Unfortunately, The Baltimore police have now moved beyond simply arresting and right into outright assault:
City Paper photo editor J.M. Giordano, beaten by police at Freddie Gray protest, explains what happened, with video: http://t.co/H5R9FwOXhC
— Baltimore City Paper (@city_paper) April 26, 2015
.@city_paper photo editor @jmgpix being beaten by police at Western District last night: https://t.co/6nJilb6PbK
— Baltimore City Paper (@city_paper) April 26, 2015
As CityPaper reports:
City Paper photo editor J.M. Giordano was tackled and beaten by Baltimore City police outside of Western District headquarters last night while covering protests over the death of Freddie Gray in police custody.
In a video shot by City Paper managing editor Baynard Woods you can see Giordano, wearing a green jacket, and a protestor, both of whom had just been knocked to the ground by police, being beaten as Woods yells “He’s a photographer! He’s press!”
- See more at: citypaper.com
Giordano says he was standing next to the protestor in the video, facing the police line, at about 12:30 when someone threw a rock which hit a police officer’s shield.
“They mobilized,” he says. The police line moved forward and Giordano did not move fast enough for them. “I always move at the last second,” he says. Five or six police officers in riot gear hit Giordano and the other protester with their sheilds, knocking them to the ground.
“They just swarmed over me,” he says. “I got hit. My head hit the ground. They were hitting me, then someone pulled me out.”
- See more at: citypaper.com
It was not an isolated incident:
.@jmgpix were purposely & deliberately singled out by @BaltimorePolice for attack. We were both armed with CAMERAS in our hands @PINACnews
— Agitator In Chief (@BaltoSpectator) April 26, 2015
.@BaltimorePolice are singling out folk like @jmgpix, P from @BmoreBloc myslef & others who have been telling the truth about them for years
— Agitator In Chief (@BaltoSpectator) April 26, 2015
So yes I initiated a complaint last night with Sgt. Harty, but like past complaints against abuse from @BaltimorePolice, I expect no results
— Agitator In Chief (@BaltoSpectator) April 26, 2015
The intense scene outside Western District moment after @BaltimorePolice assaulted me. Video by @rousseau_ist @PINACnews
— Agitator In Chief (@BaltoSpectator) April 26, 2015
When I was nearly knocked over while doing photography, it GREATLY enraged onlookers. @BaltimorePolice knew what they were doing.
— Agitator In Chief (@BaltoSpectator) April 26, 2015
Would like to thank all the people at Gilmor Homes last night who approached officers after I was assaulted & attempted to get answers why
— Agitator In Chief (@BaltoSpectator) April 26, 2015
One man standing near the line got knocked with a baton for no reason. Did his best to remain calm and not retaliate. Many cheap shots taken
— Agitator In Chief (@BaltoSpectator) April 26, 2015
Numerous occasions I physically intervened between angry demonstrators & @BaltimorePolice, defusing situations. Police thanked me w assault
— Agitator In Chief (@BaltoSpectator) April 26, 2015
Yesterday, the police assaulted a photographer. Now, this is violence. Baltimore. #FreddieGray https://t.co/JKPlyMTTzz
— deray mckesson (@deray) April 26, 2015
When the wall of @BaltimorePolice charged us, I turned around & watched with horror as they attacked @jmgpix. Was totally shameful.
— Agitator In Chief (@BaltoSpectator) April 26, 2015
That’s two times in less than a week now @BaltimorePolice have grabbed or assaulted me for no reason while I’m doing photography.
— Agitator In Chief (@BaltoSpectator) April 26, 2015
As FeminaziBitch already reported - the Baltimore Sun has a 6 month investigation into police brutality in the city - you can find that here:
littlegreenfootballs.com
Update: I referred to Baltospectator as Dr. James Marshall, in fact his name is Dr. James MacArthur, a mistake I can only attribute to exhaustion.