40,000 People Call on U.S. Mayors to End Journalist Arrests

The number of journalists arrested at Occupy Wall Street events around the country just keeps climbing. After this week’s police raids on Occupy LA and Occupy Philly, the total number of journalists arrested is now up to 30. The arrests have spread across 10 cities from Oakland to Boston, Los Angeles to Atlanta.

While the arrests are perhaps the worst examples of press suppression, other reports of police roughing up journalists or blocking them from reporting continue to roll in. Even in New York City, where the NYPD has ordered its officers not to interfere with press, journalists are still being harassed.

A chorus of leading news organizations, press associations and civil liberties groups has spoken out against the press suppression and arrests that have plagued Occupy protests around the country. Today tens of thousands of people join that call.

Today we delivered a petition with more than 40,000 signatures to New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg and Los Angeles Mayor Antonio R. Villaraigosa, president of the United States Conference of Mayors, urging mayors around the country to defend the First Amendment and protect journalists covering the Occupy movement.

It’s time for mayors to rein in these attacks and publicly commit to defending the First Amendment in their cities. Now, more than ever, we need a robust public square for debate and discussion. Freedom of the press can’t be practiced from a jail cell.

Below is a copy of the petition:

Free Press Petition to U.S. Conference of Mayors

Free Press is a national, nonpartisan organization working to reform the media. Free Press does not support or oppose any candidate for public office. Through education, organizing and advocacy, we promote diverse and independent media ownership, strong public media and universal access to communications.