Incident Details
- Date of Incident
- May 6, 2024
- Targets
- Peter Hambrecht (Independent)
- Assailant
- Law enforcement
- Was the journalist targeted?
- Yes
Assault
Independent photojournalist Peter Hambrecht, left, was shoved with a baton by a New York City police officer while documenting a pro-Palestinian demonstration near the Met Gala, an annual fundraiser for the Metropolitan Museum of Art, on May 6, 2024.
Independent photojournalist Peter Hambrecht was shoved with a baton by a New York City police officer while covering a pro-Palestinian protest in Manhattan on May 6, 2024.
Hambrecht told the U.S. Press Freedom Tracker he was 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 one point when police were making arrests, Hambrecht said, an officer tackled a demonstrator against a car near where he was standing.
“The police really started aggressively pushing us back,” Hambrecht said. “Then an officer came with their club and just rams me on my side and slams me against a car. They tried to push me back onto the sidewalk, behind the car so I can’t see what they’re doing to this person.”
Hambrecht said it appeared to be a deliberate police strategy to obstruct the press, as he was standing alongside other journalists who were also forced out of view of the detainment.
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, including Hambrecht and independent photojournalist Josh Pacheco.
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!”
After beginning to document protests in early 2024, Hambrecht said, he has observed police singling out visual journalists. “Ever since getting my city-issued pass I’ve noticed that they target the photographers and really they try to get you out of there and separate you.”
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].
