Incident Details
- Date of Incident
- August 27, 2017
- Location
- Berkeley, California
- Targets
- Thom Jensen (KNTV)
- Assailant
- Private individual
- Was the journalist targeted?
- Yes
Assault
- Equipment Broken
- Actor
- Private individual
Equipment Damage
Thom Jensen, a freelance journalist for KNTV, argues with protesters after they steal his phone, in Berkeley, California, on Aug. 27, 2017.
Thom Jensen, a freelance reporter for NBC affiliate KNTV, had his phone taken by protesters while covering an anti-fascist demonstration on Aug. 27, 2017, in Berkeley, California.
Lizzie Johnson, a reporter at the San Francisco Chronicle, tweeted a video that shows protesters chasing Jensen and yelling, “Take his camera, take his phone!”
"Take his camera, take his phone," they are shouting at a journalist. #berkeley pic.twitter.com/hvsQ5eXalE
— Lizzie Johnson (@lizziejohnsonnn) August 27, 2017
Thomas Hawk, an independent photojournalist who also covered the rally, told the Freedom of the Press Foundation that he saw Jensen arguing with a group of protesters after they took his phone.
Jensen later tweeted that the protesters who took his phone submerged it in a water-filled barricade. He said that he got the phone back and it continued to work.
My phone was taken & submerged in one of the water-filled barricades. Thankfully it had a waterproof case & find my iPhone works under water https://t.co/rOTfQmbeyK
— Thom Jensen (@ThomNBCBayArea) August 28, 2017
The U.S. Press Freedom Tracker catalogues press freedom violations in the United States. Email tips to [email protected].
