“Members of the Maryland National Guard’s 175th Infantry Regiment patrol on East Pratt Street at the Inner Harbor to protect Baltimore citizens April 28, 2015.” by Maryland National Guard is licensed under CC BY 2.0
As the Baltimore riots rage on, some photojournalists are being assaulted while trying to document what’s happening on the ground. Baltimore Sun photographer Christopher Assaf, USA Today was attacked while shooting when he was tripped and repeatedly punched in the back of the head before the Baltimore police found him lying in the street.
The protests have captivated the entire world, and the media continues a 24-hour news cycle on the damage.
Baltimore has been burning over since Monday, because of the death of Freddie Gray. Gray was taken into police custody for possession of a switchblade, and while being transported by the Baltimore police, Gray incurred massive trauma to his spinal cord and larynx, resulting in his death in custody.
After news of his death reached the local news, protestors took to the streets to raise awareness of police brutality, and the #BlackLivesMatter movement. The protest eventually ignited rioting, looting, and destruction of businesses, in what seems to be an out of control situation.
In response to the violence against photojournalists, the National Press Photographers Association (NPPA) “Some Practical Advice about Covering High Conflict News Stories.”
If you are a photojournalist, please read the advice on NPPA’s Advocacy Blog NPPA Blog.
Photographers encountering legal problems while covering the story in Baltimore can contact NPPA’s general legal counsel at lawyer@nppa.org.
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