Chicago Police Urged to Respect Journalists' Rights at Democratic Convention

Press freedom, legal protection of journalists emphasized ahead of predicted Chicago DNC protests

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CHICAGO – As the Democratic National Convention approaches, hundreds of journalists are expected to arrive in Chicago to cover the event from August 19-22. Authorities are being urged to respect the rights of journalists to report on the protests without interference.

The head of the Freedom of the Press Foundation highlighted that journalists are not only protected by the First Amendment but also by Fourth Amendment safeguards against unreasonable search and seizure. The focus of law enforcement should remain on serious lawbreakers, not reporters covering the protests surrounding the Chicago DNC.

In a recent report, it was revealed that the city's plan to streamline mass arrests during the convention involves processing arrestees at a makeshift court at the Area 3 Chicago police station on Belmont and Western. This arrangement is purportedly for the convenience of arrestees, making it easier for them to get home via public transportation. However, this plan does not address the potential threat that mass arrests pose to journalists.

Journalists cannot perform their duties while detained, whether at a Chicago police station or elsewhere, nor can they inform the public while evading police tear gas. It is crucial for police to distinguish between reporters and lawbreakers during arrests or crowd dispersal operations.

A common issue is that officers often do not recognize that reporters are not required to comply with mass dispersal orders. This was underscored by the Department of Justice in its report on how Minneapolis police handled protests following the murder of George Floyd. The DOJ stated that "blanket enforcement of dispersal orders and curfews against the press violates [the First Amendment] because they prevent the press from reporting on what occurs after dispersal or curfew orders are issued, including how police enforce those orders."

Appellate courts have consistently affirmed that obstructing journalists documenting protests and their aftermath is a form of censorship. During the 2020 unrest following George Floyd's murder, Chicago police reportedly assaulted multiple journalists exercising their rights, as documented by the U.S. Press Freedom Tracker.