Protests that began in Minnesota on May 26 following the murder of George Floyd have spread across the United States, unleashing another problematic issue: attacks on freedom of the press.

Journalists across the United States have been targeted by police while covering the George Floyd protests.

New York City police officers surrounded, shoved and yelled expletives at two Associated Press journalists covering protests on June 2nd in the latest aggression against members of the media during a week of unrest around the country.

We are deeply saddened to hear about the severe injury photojournalist Linda Tirado suffered on May 30, 2020 while capturing the protests in Nashville Tennessee.

Ellen Schmidt, a staff photographer at the Las Vegas Review-Journal, and Bridget Bennett, a freelance photojournalist, were following the demonstrations on May 29 in Las Vegas when arrested along with 80 protesters.

Demonstrations across the United States continue, and with curfews put in place in large cities, reporters are facing arrests.

Madeleine Baran and Samara Freemark were reporting from the demonstration scene in Minneapolis on May 30 when a police officer ran towards them, pointing a weapon - believed to be either a projectile or a tear gas weapon- and instructing them to “GO!”.

CBS5 reporter Briana Whitney was attacked by a civilian man on live television while reporting on protests outside Phoenix Police Department headquarters on May 29.

Louisville based news agency WLKY’s crew was senselessly attacked on May 29 while covering the protests in downtown.

Los Angeles Times reporter Molly Hennessy-Fiske was tear gassed while reporting the protests in Minnesota on the frontlines. CFWIJ is concerned about attacks against women journalists in the United States.

Canadian Broadcasting Corporation journalist Susan Ormiston was hit with a gas canister in Minnesota. Journalists were tear gassed while covering the protests, despite clear depiction of their press credentials. CFWIJ urges US authorities and especially the police department to stop attacks against journalists. We are deeply concerned about the constant targeting of women journalists.

WAVE 3 News reporter and photographer Kaitlin Rust were struck by pepper balls reportedly fired by an LMPD officer during a protest in Louisville. CFWIJ condemns the use of disproportionate force against the press by the police. We are concerned about the targeting of women reporters covering a critical national story in the democratic country.