Incident Details
- Date of Incident
- May 6, 2024
- Targets
- Josh Pacheco (Independent)
- Assailant
- Law enforcement
- Was the journalist targeted?
- Yes
Assault
Independent photojournalist Josh Pacheco captures this image as a New York City police officer shoved them back while they covered a pro-Palestinian demonstration near the Met Gala, an annual fundraiser for the Metropolitan Museum of Art, on May 6, 2024.
Independent photojournalist Josh Pacheco was shoved with a baton by a New York City police officer while covering a pro-Palestinian protest in Manhattan on May 6, 2024.
Pacheco told the U.S. Press Freedom Tracker that they were reporting on a protest that began at Hunter College at 4 p.m. and marched toward the Met Gala, an annual fundraiser for the Metropolitan Museum of Art, 15 blocks away. WCBS-TV reported that the protesters were stopped by police before they reached the museum.
At 1:10 in the WCBS-TV video report on the protests, police can be seen using batons to push multiple individuals who appear to be wearing press credentials and holding professional cameras. Pacheco confirmed that they were one of the journalists, and a second was identified as independent photojournalist Peter Hambrecht.
Pacheco reported on social media that as the march moved up Madison Avenue, police arrested multiple protesters and attacked members of the press with batons. In their footage, someone can be heard saying, “We’re all press, stop pushing us!”
The New York City Police Department did not respond to a request for comment.
The U.S. Press Freedom Tracker catalogues press freedom violations in the United States. Email tips to [email protected].
