Journalists threatened by Washington mob

Author Moonshot.news

Published on: 08/01/2021

“The pro-Trump protests in Washington, D.C. — during which a mob broke into the Capitol building and forced journalists, lawmakers, and staff to shelter-in-place for hours — were full of anti-press sentiment”, the Committee to Protect Journalists, reports. The New York Times reports that the words “Murder the Media” were etched on a door inside the building.

”Individuals in the crowd repeatedly threatened reporters and smashed their equipment”, the Committee said. ”The US Press Freedom Tracker, of which CPJ is a founding member, is investigating at least three arrests, six assaults, and multiple reports of equipment damage, threats, and harassment of members of the media.”

Amanda Andrade-Rhoades, freelance photojournalist on assignment for The Washington Post told the Committee: “I had three different people threaten to shoot me over the course of the day. They weren’t armed as far as I could tell. I saw people with knives and pepper spray. If they had guns, I couldn’t see them. But I did see people in flak jackets and bullet proof vests, so clearly ready for armed combat. At one point, a guy leaned over to me and said, “I’m coming back with a gun tomorrow and I’m coming for you.”

”I had a man get in my face as I was trying to photograph a broken window. He asked me “Are you Antifa?” My credential was hidden, but my gas mask, which I was wearing at the time, said press. A Capitol Police officer actually told him to back off. He said, “No she’s media, stop.”