Incident Details
- Date of Incident
- May 2, 2024
- Arrest Status
- Arrested and released
- Arresting Authority
- New York State Police
- Charges
-
-
Trespassing
- May 2, 2024: Charges pending
-
Trespassing
- Unnecessary use of force?
- No
Arrest/Criminal Charge
Law enforcement officers broke up an encampment at a pro-Palestinian protest at the State University of New York at New Paltz on May 2, 2024. A multimedia reporter for Spectrum 1 News was among those arrested.
A multimedia journalist for Spectrum News 1 was arrested May 2, 2024, while covering a pro-Palestinian protest on the campus of the State University of New York at New Paltz, according to New York State Police.
John Camera was reporting on the protest for the cable news channel when tensions escalated between the students at a protest encampment and police. It wasn’t clear whether he wore a press pass or identified himself as a journalist.
Trooper Steven Nevel told the U.S. Press Freedom Tracker that Camera didn’t move when ordered to disperse. Troopers then arrested him, along with 132 others, according to a Spectrum News report.
Camera was transported to a police station in Kingston, N.Y., without incident, but not jailed, Nevel told the Tracker. He was later charged with a trespassing violation and is scheduled for a court hearing on July 9 at the New Paltz town court. Nevel said he expected the charge to be dropped.
Neither Camera nor Nick Cowdrey, the station’s director of news, responded to email or phone messages requesting comment.
The U.S. Press Freedom Tracker catalogues press freedom violations in the United States. Email tips to [email protected].
