LA Times Confronts LAPD for Arrest of Journalist

Echo Park Lake in Los Angeles, California was a hotspot for the homeless prior to March 25, 2021. The LAPD and city planners of LA made plans to clear Echo Park Lake to make repairs to the damages in the area. LA Times news reporter, James Queally, was arrested even after showing his LAPD-issued media credentials. Queally was arrested and zip-tied for detainment when he proceeded to follow the story. Though following the action of a potential story is very dangerous, returning to the office with no news to report is equally as frightening. Queally was following the protest against the removal of the homeless who had set up camp in Echo Park Lake.

Under the first amendment, United States citizens have the right to freedom of the press. While this clause does not specifically mean just reporters and journalists, they are certainly included in this amendment. Even with LAPD-issued media credentials, the arrest of James Queally is unconstitutional. Even though it is dangerous to follow the story beyond the news areas set up around incidents, it is not against the law. People have the right to report what they see and to publish this news in any form of text that they please, as long as it is not making a threat or inciting violence. The first amendment says that US citizens have the right to assemble peacefully. These reporters were not committing any crimes, inciting any violence, or violating the first amendment in any way, yet they were still arrested unlawfully. Queally was released when it was confirmed that he was an LA Times reporter, even though he had proved that on the scene. 

Freedom of the press is an extremely important clause of the First Amendment. It ensures that the government is not manipulating and controlling what information the public sees and what they are aware about. Giving press freedom is significant because it allows Americans to talk about and share their individual perspective of the events going on in the world.