Outrage over LA cops pummeling Telemundo crews
Cory Bergman May 2nd, 2007
Los Angeles cops clearing an immigration rally blew through a national Telemundo live position, sending the anchors running and gear flying (video). Then they knocked a Telemundo photographer to the ground, grabbed his camera and chucked it to the dirt. “Our national anchor was being pushed by the batons,” said Marcia Garcia, a reporter for Spanish-language Telemundo 52. “Our TV set was destroyed — monitors, cables, everything on the ground; it was like a surrealistic nightmare.” Four Telemundo staffers were treated and released from the hospital. The Radio and Television News Association of Southern California is demanding answers, and now the police chief admits the tactics were inappropriate, and he’s calling for a full review. I would hope so.
Update: Now RTNDA is calling for a probe into the police’s treatment of the media
Adds Tim in comments: “Telemundo should sue for the damage to their property, possibly for pain and suffering of their employees, for violation of their constitutional right to a free press; and do it right away. I don’t usually advocate lawsuits, but in this case it seems to me the only way to get the ‘review’ done by hopefully impartial parties — a judge and jury.”
Update: Some media involved are considering legal claims, reports the LA Times.
4 Comments Add your own
1. Tim | May 2nd, 2007 at 6:45 pm
“Reviews” are pointless, since they’re conducted by the offending organization. Telemundo should sue for the damage to their property, possibly for pain and suffering of their employees, for violation of their constitutional right to a free press; and do it right away.
I don’t usually advocate lawsuits - but in this case it seems to me the only way to get the “review” done by hopefully impartial parties- a judge and jury.
2. Anonymous | May 3rd, 2007 at 6:16 am
How stupid do you have to be to attack media members… not like they’ll film you or take your picture or anything.
3. Safran | May 3rd, 2007 at 6:44 am
Why do I have the feeling that they wouldn’t have attacked an English-speaking news organization’s position? Oh, right - because they wouldn’t have.
4. Everett W. | May 3rd, 2007 at 8:28 am
As I recall, some members of the local CBS station crew were also reportedly pushed around in the police action. There’s more than a little cause for legal sanctioning there.
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