Incident Database

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Unnecessary use of force?

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Yes
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Stopped previously?

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Did authorities ask intrusive questions about journalist's work?

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10 incidents recorded

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Incident

Incident Details

Category Details

Freelance journalist sues following House Committee’s subpoena of her phone records

Incident Details

Updated On: December 5, 2022
Date of Incident: November 24, 2021
Location: Washington, District of Columbia
Case number: 1:21-cv-03290
Targets: Amy Harris (Freelance)
Case Status: Dismissed
Type of case: Civil

Legal Orders →: subpoena for communications or work product

Nov. 24, 2021: Pending

Dec. 5, 2022: Dropped
Legal Order Target →: Third-party: Verizon (telecom company)
Legal Order Venue →: Federal

ACLU files for ‘false imprisonment’ against Washington, D.C., police after photojournalist arrested, equipment seized

Incident Details

Updated On: August 29, 2022
Date of Incident: August 31, 2020
Location: Washington, District of Columbia
Case number: 1:21-cv-02158
Targets: Oyoma Asinor (Independent)
Case Status: Dismissed
Type of case: Civil

Arrest Status →: Arrested and released
Arresting Authority →: Metropolitan Police Department
Charges →: Rioting

Aug. 31, 2020: Charges pending

Aug. 31, 2020: Charges dropped
Detention Date →: August 31, 2020
Unnecessary use of force? →: Yes

Assailant →: Law enforcement
Was the journalist targeted? →: Yes

Equipment Seized →: Camera, 1

Cellphone, 1
Status of Seized Equipment →: Returned in full
Search Warrant Obtained →: No
Actor who seized equipment →: Law enforcement

ACLU sues Washington, D.C., police for violating photojournalist’s rights during protests

Incident Details

Updated On: August 29, 2022
Date of Incident: August 29, 2020
Location: Washington, District of Columbia
Case number: 1:21-cv-02158
Targets: Bryan Dozier (Independent)
Case Status: Dismissed
Type of case: Civil

Assailant →: Law enforcement
Was the journalist targeted? →: Unknown

MLK50 journalist files lawsuit to regain access to Memphis mayor’s media list

Incident Details

Updated On: April 30, 2021
Date of Incident: May 13, 2020
Location: Memphis, Tennessee
Case number: 2:20-cv-02343
Targets: Wendi C. Thomas (MLK50)
Case Status: Dismissed
Type of case: Civil

Government agency or public official involved →: Mayor Jim Strickland

Wisconsin think tank sues governor for leaving its news service off media advisory list

Incident Details

Updated On: December 10, 2021
Date of Incident: August 6, 2019
Location: Madison, Wisconsin
Case number: 3:19-cv-00649
Targets: MacIver Institute for Public Policy, MacIver News Service
Case Status: Dismissed
Type of case: Civil

Government agency or public official involved →: Gov. Tony Evers

Independent journalist cited for trespassing in Florida city hall

Incident Details

Updated On: December 2, 2019
Date of Incident: December 20, 2018
Location: Punta Gorda, Florida
Case number: 2:19-cv-00484
Targets: Andrew Sheets
Case Status: Dismissed
Type of case: Civil

Arresting Authority →: Punta Gorda Police Department
Charges →: Trespassing

Dec. 20, 2018: Convicted

Jul. 12, 2019: Pending appeal

Dec. 2, 2019: Convicted
Unnecessary use of force? →: No

Journalist stopped for secondary screening, cellphone searched

Incident Details

Updated On: June 28, 2021
Date of Incident: July 30, 2017
Location: Highgate Springs, Vermont
Case number: 1:17-cv-11730
Targets: Isma’il Kushkush
Case Status: Dismissed
Type of case: Civil

Border Point →: Highgate Springs Port of Entry
Stopped at border? →: Yes
Target Nationality →: Sudan

United States
US Citizenship Status of Target →: U.S. citizen
Denied Entry? →: No
Stopped Previously? →: Yes
Asked for device access? →: Yes
Asked to display social media? →: Unknown
Asked for social media passwords? →: Unknown
Asked intrusive questions about work? →: Yes
Were devices searched or seized? →: Yes

Search Warrant Obtained →: No

Journalist, graduate student stopped for secondary screening, electronic devices searched

Incident Details

Updated On: June 28, 2021
Date of Incident: March 5, 2017
Location: Toronto, Canada
Case number: 1:17-cv-11730
Targets: Zainab Merchant (Independent)
Case Status: Dismissed
Type of case: Civil

Border Point →: Toronto Pearson International Airport
Stopped at border? →: Yes
Target Nationality →: United States
US Citizenship Status of Target →: U.S. citizen
Denied Entry? →: No
Stopped Previously? →: Yes
Asked for device access? →: Yes
Asked to display social media? →: Unknown
Asked for social media passwords? →: Unknown
Asked intrusive questions about work? →: Yes
Were devices searched or seized? →: Yes

Search Warrant Obtained →: No

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