Freelance journalist barred from New York school board meeting

Freelance reporter Jennifer Holloway was barred from attending a William Floyd School Board meeting in Mastic Beach, New York, on April 22, 2025, after she filmed the arrest of an attendee and was removed from the building.

Holloway told the U.S. Press Freedom Tracker she was on assignment for PRO_NYC, a New York-based digital news outlet that focuses on protests, events, demonstrations and rallies in the tristate area. The meeting’s public comment portion was expected to include comments on the inclusion of a transgender student-athlete on the William Floyd High School track team, and Holloway said there had been rumors that anti-trans counterprotesters were planning to attend.

She said that the school board meeting followed a normal routine and, when she learned that it would be at least half an hour before the public comment section would begin, she left temporarily to go to her car.

“As I was walking back, lo and behold, what did I see? Two policemen literally running inside the school building,” Holloway said. “I had my phone in my hand and I turned on the video. Very shortly after, I was literally pushed out of the school.”

In a clip of the interaction reviewed by the Tracker, a school security officer is seen approaching Holloway while she stands a reasonable distance from the ongoing arrest. The officer then tells her to take her phone outside while directing her toward the door.

“I’m press,” Holloway responds. “I know. Turn around, go outside,” the officer replies. When Holloway asserts that she has a right to be there, as it’s a public area, the officer replies, “No you don’t” and “No it’s not.”

She told the Tracker that in addition to identifying herself verbally as a member of the press, she was wearing a media credential issued by the New York City mayor’s office.

Holloway said that being barred from reentering prevented her from observing the entirety of the public comment section, which was her primary reporting objective.

“We did get a tweet out, and I did manage to take some photographs that we put out, but the part that I really wanted to get was some of the speeches and public comment,” she added.

While Holloway noted an argument could be made that her removal violated not only the First Amendment but also the state’s open meeting laws, she said she is unlikely to pursue any legal recourse.

“I never caused any disturbance at all, as witnessed in the video. And it was just really unfair,” Holloway said. “I don’t expect any compensation. Probably the best I can hope for is an apology.”

School Board President April Coppola did not respond to a request for comment.