(NEW YORK)— Responding to the violent assault on journalists by ICE agents in New York City today, PEN America’s Tim Richardson, program director for Journalism and Disinformation, said:
“This violent assault on journalists by ICE officers in New York is another stark example of federal law enforcement and immigration officials failing to respect the essential watchdog role of an independent press,” said Richardson. “This latest incident is part of an alarming trend of attacks on press freedom by the administration, putting journalists’ safety and the public’s right to information at serious risk. Just this past weekend, a journalist was arrested covering ICE-related protests in Chicago and journalist Mario Guevara, who was arrested while covering protests in Georgia, faces possible deportation after more than 100 days in ICE custody.”
About PEN America
PEN America stands at the intersection of literature and human rights to protect free expression in the United States and worldwide. We champion the freedom to write, recognizing the power of the word to transform the world. Our mission is to unite writers and their allies to celebrate creative expression and defend the liberties that make it possible. Learn more at pen.org.
Contact: Suzanne Trimel, [email protected], 201-247-5057