MINNAEAPOLIS – The Minnesota Civil Liberties Union accused police of trampling over the right of a free press during protests that followed the police killing of George Floyd. The accusation is a class-action suit on behalf of news media by the Minnesota unit of the ACLU. The lead plaintiff is Jared Goyette, a former WCCO reporter who was freelancing. He was shot in the face with a rubber bullet. The suit, in federal court, asserts that Goyette repeatedly told police that he was a reporter there to cover demonstrations. Brian Hauss, an ACLU, said police attacks on journalists have become endemic: “We are facing a full-scale assault on the First Amendment freedom of the press. Law enforcement officers who target journalists will be held accountable.” Hauss cited incidents across the country:

> A journalist losing an eye to a rubber bullet.

> Tear-gasing and pepper-spraying of journalists in the face.

> Flash grenades being fired directly at journalists.

> Numerous arrests that violated media rights under the First Amendment.

Expect many lawsuits, Hauus said. The Minnesota suit calls out the Minnesota State Patrol and Minneapolis police.

Verbatim

Teresa Nelson, Minnesota ACLU: “The power of the people is rooted in the ability of the free press to investigate and report news, especially at a time like this when police have brutally murdered one of our community members. Police are using violence and threats to undermine that power, and we cannot let that happen. Public transparency is absolutely necessary for police accountability.”

Goyette. Police accused of aiming  rubber bullets at him.