On April 13, the News/Media Alliance joined an amicus brief, led by RCFP, in Tincher v. Mullin in the United States District Court for the District of Minnesota supporting the Plaintiff’s opposition to the government’s Motion to Dismiss. This case involves allegations of federal law enforcement officers indiscriminately using chemical agents to control crowds of protesters and hitting journalists with tear gas and pepper spray as they reported on active protests.
The brief emphasizes that the First Amendment protects a journalist’s right to record and observe law enforcement activity and the importance of journalists being able to safely do their jobs. It highlights that the indiscriminate force used against journalists covering protests can have a chilling effect on constitutionally protected newsgathering and consequently, on the public’s access to reporting on matters of public concern.
The amicus brief supports Tincher’s position that fundamental First Amendment rights will be diminished without reporters being able to observe protest activity due to harmful crowd control tactics and urges the Court to deny the government’s motion to dismiss and allow the Plaintiff’s claim to proceed. Read the full brief.
