first_published_at,last_published_at,title,slug,latest_revision_created_at,charges,legal_orders,updates,categories,links,equipment_seized,equipment_broken,targeted_journalists,authors,date,exact_date_unknown,city,state,latitude,longitude,body,introduction,teaser,teaser_image,primary_video,image_caption,arrest_status,arresting_authority,release_date,detention_date,unnecessary_use_of_force,case_number,case_statuses,case_type,status_of_seized_equipment,is_search_warrant_obtained,actor,border_point,target_us_citizenship_status,denial_of_entry,stopped_previously,did_authorities_ask_for_device_access,did_authorities_ask_about_work,assailant,was_journalist_targeted,charged_under_espionage_act,subpoena_type,subpoena_statuses,name_of_business,third_party_business,legal_order_target,legal_order_type,legal_order_venue,status_of_prior_restraint,mistakenly_released_materials,type_of_denial,targeted_institutions,tags,target_nationality,workers_whose_communications_were_obtained,politicians_or_public_figures_involved 2019-06-19 17:00:37.191021+00:00,2022-08-05 18:53:15.281748+00:00,Journalist assaulted while covering protest in Memphis,https://pressfreedomtracker.us/all-incidents/journalist-assaulted-while-covering-protest-in-memphis/,2022-08-05 18:53:15.198357+00:00,,,,Assault,,,,Patrick Niedzwiedz (WATN-TV),,2019-06-12,False,Memphis,Tennessee (TN),35.14953,-90.04898,"
WATN-TV photographer Patrick Niedzwiedz was struck while covering protests over a fatal officer shooting in Memphis, Tennessee, on June 12, 2019.
U.S. marshals shot and killed Brandon Webber, a 20-year-old Black man, in the Memphis community of Frayser, sparking violent protests. In a Facebook post in response to the protests, Memphis Mayor John Strickland wrote that “At least 24 officers and deputies were injured---6 were taken to the hospital. At least two journalists were injured.”
Rebecca Butcher, a WATN-TV reporter tweeted that Niedzwiedz had been struck while filming the protest.
The crowd at Overton Crossing was too volatile. My photographer sadly was hit by someone in the crowd. Thankfully he is okay! We have now moved to Durham Street—where tonight’s officer-involved shooting took place. We’re live at 10. @LocalMemphis
— Rebecca Butcher 🦋 (@RebeccaB_TV) June 13, 2019
Butcher told the U.S. Press Freedom Tracker that after their third live broadcast for the 9 p.m. show, Niedzwiedz was still filming when he was struck in the side of his face by someone in the crowd. The video he was filming during the altercation shows a group of protesters pushing into the frame, and one attempting to grab the microphone from Butcher’s hand.
Butcher said that since Niedzwiedz’s eye was still to the camera he did not see who struck him. The blow did not break the skin and his camera equipment was not damaged.
Mayor Strickland’s media office did not immediately respond to a request for comment by the Tracker.
A person attempts to wrestle the microphone from WATN-TV reporter Rebecca Butcher during protests on June 12, 2019, following a fatal officer shooting in Memphis, Tennessee. At least two journalists were injured.
",None,None,None,None,False,None,[],None,None,False,None,None,None,False,False,None,None,private individual,yes,False,None,[],None,None,None,None,None,None,False,None,,"Black Lives Matter, protest",,, 2019-10-25 20:18:10.852280+00:00,2024-02-29 19:52:31.074653+00:00,Freelance photographer attacked after Stanley Cup by man yelling support of Trump,https://pressfreedomtracker.us/all-incidents/freelance-photographer-attacked-after-stanley-cup-man-yelling-support-trump/,2024-02-29 19:52:30.975602+00:00,,,,Assault,,,,Scott Eisen (Freelance),,2019-06-12,False,Boston,Massachusetts (MA),42.35843,-71.05977,"Scott Eisen, a freelance photographer on assignment for Getty Images, said he was punched in the face on the street in Boston, Massachusetts, on June 12, 2019, by an unidentified man who seemed to support President Donald Trump and his anti-press rhetoric.
Eisen had just completed an assignment covering fan reaction to the final game of the Stanley Cup, in which the Boston Bruins lost to the St. Louis Blues, when he was attacked at around 11:30 p.m. on the edge of downtown Boston, Eisen recounted in an email to the U.S. Press Freedom Tracker. He had taken the subway back to where his car was parked, and while he was busy putting his photo equipment into the back of his car, a man approached him and punched him in the face.
That evening, he shared his story on Twitter, noting he was “minding his own business” when the attack occurred.
Got punched in the face loading my photo equipment into my car after the Stanley Cup game tonight in #Boston. Absolutely ridiculous, minding my own business. pic.twitter.com/RJAI782GFc
— Scott Eisen (@scotteisenphoto) June 13, 2019
The next day, he added further details:
Adding on to my post from last night about getting punched in the face while loading my equipment into my car after the Stanley Cup game in #Boston. The person who hit me yelled “fake news, trump 2020” before punching me. I included it in my Facebook post but not here originally.
— Scott Eisen (@scotteisenphoto) June 13, 2019
Eisen — who also freelances for the Boston Globe, Bloomberg and The Associated Press — provided further details about the incident on his Instagram account. "A man came behind me, put me in a choke hold and yelled 'fake news! Trump 2020' and punched me right in the face," Eisen wrote in a Instagram caption accompanying a photo of his face, which was left swollen and scratched by the attack.
"It goes to show it doesn’t matter where you are as a journalist these days...the climate is such that you need to always watch your back. Sad times. I’m fine. the funniest part is calling a wire photog 'fake news' is so ridiculous because all we do is make REAL photographs," Eisen continued.
In an email to the Tracker, Eisen explained how the attack has changed how he goes about his job. “I’m more cautious in places that I am used to being around as you never know who may be following you or in the area. We tend to let our guard down in familiar areas,” he wrote. “We are in a climate where media gets a lot of flack for doing our jobs and part of me hopes this man was just heavily intoxicated and not making the right decisions that evening.”
A St. Louis Blues hockey player celebrates with a fan after winning the Stanley Cup Final in June. Photographer Scott Eisen, who was covering the game for Getty Images, says he was attacked after the game while putting his equipment away.
",None,None,None,None,False,None,[],None,None,False,None,None,None,False,False,None,None,private individual,yes,False,None,[],None,None,None,None,None,None,False,[],,,,, 2021-10-21 17:18:11.960314+00:00,2024-01-17 19:25:41.967060+00:00,"Journalist assaulted, pushed to the ground while covering protest in Memphis",https://pressfreedomtracker.us/all-incidents/journalist-assaulted-pushed-to-the-ground-while-covering-protest-in-memphis/,2024-01-17 19:25:41.835702+00:00,,,,Assault,,,,Luke Jones (WREG-TV),,2019-06-12,False,Memphis,Tennessee (TN),35.14953,-90.04898,"WREG-TV reporter Luke Jones was hurt while covering protests over a fatal officer shooting in Memphis, Tennessee, on June 12, 2019.
U.S. marshals shot and killed Brandon Webber, a 20-year-old Black man, in the Memphis community of Frayser, sparking violent protests. In a Facebook post in response to the protests, Memphis Mayor John Strickland wrote that “At least 24 officers and deputies were injured---6 were taken to the hospital. At least two journalists were injured.”
Jones wrote on Twitter that a man ran up and hit him in the head, and then knocked him to the ground. Eight hours later, Jones tweeted again, and said that he was leaving the hospital and received a contusion.
Had to change locations. Guy just ran up, hit me on the side of my head and knocked me to the ground. @3onyourside
— Luke Jones (@LukeJonesTV) June 13, 2019
Just left the hospital and all is well. Only a contusion. Thanks for the well wishes.
— Luke Jones (@LukeJonesTV) June 13, 2019
Jones told the U.S. Press Freedom Tracker that he did not have any equipment with him at the time he was attacked, and that he had been walking to meet a photographer when it felt like someone punched him in the side of his head.
Jones said he filed a police report over the incident on the evening of June 12.
Mayor Strickland’s media office did not immediately respond to a request for comment by the Tracker.