France: Police Violently Remove Journalist Harmony Pondy-Nyaga from Environmental Protest
The Coalition For Women In Journalism calls on French police to respect press freedom and allow journalists to report climate demonstrations without harassment
Location: France, Paris
Date: May 26, 2023
Photo Credit: Catherine Brumbauer
Journalist Harmony Pondy-Nyaga was forcibly removed by police while filming an environmental protest in Paris. Security guards dragged the journalist away from the protest, and police threw her to the ground. The Coalition For Women In Journalism is appalled by her mistreatment and demands French police stop obstructing journalists covering demonstrations.
On May 26, security guards and police assaulted La Chanel Info’s Harmony Pondy-Nyaga as she documented an environmental demonstration in Paris.
A video of the incident shows security guards pushing Pondy-Nyaga, forcing her to go to a neutral zone outside the cordoned security fences surrounding the building.
Une journaliste de LCI malmenée et poussée au sol au début de l’action. pic.twitter.com/X9CsmcmavO
— Clément Lanot (@ClementLanot) May 26, 2023
The journalist shouted at the guards to let her go as they dragged her out of the area. She was then grabbed by a policeman and thrown to the ground, surrounded by four police officers.
Pondy-Nyaga’s press credentials were visible, and she identified herself as a member of the press.
"These images are unacceptable,” wrote the Journalists Society of LCI about the incident, “journalists must be able to freely document social movements.”
Pondy-Nyaga was filming environmental activists outside of a renowned Paris concert hall where oil giant TotalEnergies’ shareholders meeting was being held.
Protesters blocked access to the meeting by sitting down in the surrounding streets and linking arms. Police officers had to physically remove some protesters to clear the way, and they resorted to using tear gas to disperse the crowd.
Police obstruction of journalists covering climate demonstrations
Journalists reporting on climate actions and protests face difficulties as police often treat reporters as if they are activists, routinely detaining or physically obstructing them as they try to cover demonstrations.
In February, two journalists in the Netherlands were detained alongside protestors while covering a climate action. Despite repeatedly identifying themselves as press, they were detained for several hours and later fined.
French police have frequently assaulted journalists covering protests in the country. During pension protests in March 2023, police manhandled, strangled and forcibly arrested journalist Chloé Gence filming demonstrations in Paris.
Police and security must distinguish between press workers and activists working at climate protests. Journalists have a right to cover demonstrations in the public’s interest. Assaults and obstruction by police are unacceptable. The Coalition For Women In Journalism calls on French police to respect the press’ right to report and demands the French interior minister stop police violence against journalists covering protests.
The Coalition For Women In Journalism is a global organization of support for women journalists. The CFWIJ pioneered mentorship for mid-career women journalists across several countries around the world and is the first organization to focus on the status of free press for women journalists. We thoroughly document cases of any form of abuse against women in any part of the globe. Our system of individuals and organizations brings together the experience and mentorship necessary to help female career journalists navigate the industry. Our goal is to help develop a strong mechanism where women journalists can work safely and thrive.
If you have been harassed or abused in any way, and please report the incident by using the following form.