After Occupy Journalist Arrests, US Plummets in Global Press Freedom Rankings

Published on Wednesday, January 25, 2012 by Common Dreams

- Common Dreams staff 

 

Reporters Without Borders has released its annual World Press Freedom Index and the United States fell 27 points to No. 47 on the list. Why? "more than 25 [reporters] were subjected to arrests and beatings at the hands of police" during Occupy movement protests.

Journalist Kristyna Wentz-Graff, whose press badge is visible, was arrested while covering an Occupy protest in November. "The worldwide wave of protests in 2011 also swept through the New World. It dragged the United States (47th) and Chile (80th) down the index, costing them 27 and 47 places respectively. The crackdown on protest movements and the accompanying excesses took their toll on journalists. In the space of two months in the United States, more than 25 were subjected to arrests and beatings at the hands of police who were quick to issue indictments for inappropriate behavior, public nuisance or even lack of accreditation."

Free Press reports:

In last night’s State of the Union address, President Obama called for a “renewal of American values.” However, over the course of his wide-ranging speech, he made no mention of one core value: the fundamental role of the free press in America.

This absence was highlighted this morning when Reporters Without Borders released its 2011–2012 global Press Freedom Index. After months of journalist arrests and press suppression at Occupy Wall Street-inspired protests, the United States has dropped significantly in the rankings.

According to this report, the U.S. has dropped 27 places to 47th in the world. This is especially troubling as we head into an election year which is sure to spark new conflicts between police and press covering rallies, protests and political events.

And these Occupy arrests are not isolated incidents. According to organizations like the Society for Professional Journalists, the National Press Photographers Association and the Committee to Protect Journalists, the arrests at Occupy events are part of a growing trend in the U.S. and worldwide.

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My thoughts...

This is a very serious problem if we are to regain our democracy. As long as law enforcement feel embolden to arrest journalists and many times at the request of their leadership who are beholding to the oligarchy that has taken over the country. Many a police chief and county sheriff owe their jobs to this oligarchy who either paved the way for them to get the job or gave them money to be elected to the job. When constitutional rights conflict with the requests of those who gave you money or help, it is the money that wins out over the constitution. 

For many, not all, but many who are in law enforcement, they are very detached from the citizens who pay their salaries. 

There is a them against us mentality that can alter the way they do their jobs and how the relate to ordinary citizens and unable to identify with the plight of the masses. It is not until they loose their jobs and face the realities of what is happening that they then feel remorse for their abusive actions against protesters and journalist trying to report what the protesters are wanting so the public is informed of their grievances.