VICE News journalist assaulted, camera damaged during Capitol riots

January 6, 2021
VICE News international correspondent Ben Solomon and cameraman Chris Olson were attacked by several rioters as they covered the assault on the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. Demonstrators attempted to smash Olson’s camera, damaging the handle.President Donald Trump spoke at a noon rally that day in front of the White House, promoting false claims of election fraud and calling for his supporters to march to the Capitol where lawmakers were certifying the victory of President-elect Joe Biden, reported the …

Four journalists shoved by law enforcement officers while documenting Portland protests

November 4, 2020
Four journalists were pushed by law enforcement officers while covering demonstrations in Portland, Oregon, on Nov. 4, 2020.The journalists — documentary filmmaker Lance Bangs, independent photojournalists Mason Lake and Maranie Staab, as well as a member of a press collective called the 45th Parallel Absurdist Brigade who asked to remain anonymous — were documenting protests on the day after the election.Protests had been held in Portland on almost a nightly basis since the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis on …

VICE freelancer hit with mace and projectiles during clash of rival rallies in Portland

August 22, 2020
While covering rival protests in Portland for VICE News on Aug. 22, 2020, freelance journalist Donovan Farley posted a series of tweets reporting that he was maced and hit with projectiles. In his tweets, Farley identified his attackers as right-wing protesters.According to Oregon Public Broadcasting, the protest began around noon as two groups faced off in front of the Multnomah County Justice Center. In a tweet, Farley characterized one group’s action as a “pro-police” rally. Countering that gathering was a …

Journalist’s camera hit by pepper ball in Louisville

May 30, 2020
Journalist Juanita Ceballos’ camera was hit by a pepper ball while she covered protests against police violence in Louisville, Kentucky, on May 30, 2020.Ceballos, a producer and cameraperson for VICE News, was filming with a colleague near Jefferson Square in downtown Louisville for several hours when police officers declared the demonstration an unlawful assembly and ordered protesters to disperse, she told the U.S. Press Freedom Tracker. Crowds of protesters were marching in response to the March 13 killing by Louisville …

VICE Media producer arrested while covering Minneapolis protests

May 30, 2020
Jika González, a producer for VICE Media, and three colleagues were arrested on May 30 in Minneapolis, for being out after curfew while covering ongoing protests.The protests were held in response to the death of George Floyd, a Black man who died in Minneapolis on May 25. During an arrest, a white Minneapolis Police officer kneeled on Floyd’s neck and ignored Floyd’s pleas that he could not breathe. Floyd was later pronounced dead in a hospital.González told the Committee to …
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