re: #141 darthstar

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In that vein:

The Ferguson Police Have No Idea How to Deal With Journalists
And the journos aren’t making it any easier

Just after 1:00 AM on Aug. 19, there was a moment of panic when law enforcement on West Florissant Avenue—the flashpoint of the protests in Ferguson, Missouri—corralled journalists into their designated “playpen.”

Protesters seeking cover from the cops fled into the swarm of photographers. A standoff followed as, for half an hour, the press and the police stared at each other across the street, neither camp knowing quite what to do.

Several photographers standing next to me put on gas masks. It seemed possible the police might fire military-grade tear gas into our group, even if we were press. Cops already have arrested 14 journalists in Ferguson.

But last night the police demurred. They seem to have figured out—albeit a bit late—that all those beautiful photos of peaceful protesters in shrouds of harmful smoke were making law enforcement look bad.

Eventually officers—wielding shotguns with LESS LETHAL stamped on their stocks—stormed into the press area and made several arrests, dragging protesters out before handcuffing them face-down on the ground.

Two photos, with their captions:

Image: 1*RvJb41uxFjqwF8WXohIeAw.jpeg
“Less lethal.” Curtis Wallen photo

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Protestor and cops. Curtis Wallen photo