This is getting real. And scary. Wednesday evening, Huffington Post’s Ryan J. Reilly and the Washington Post’s Wesley Lowery were reporting from a McDonald’s when they were arrested by police officers in Ferguson, Missouri. Ferguson has been in chaos following the death of unarmed black teen Michael Brown. Brown was shot by a police officer last week.
Reilly recounts his arrest:
“The officer in question, who I repeatedly later asked for his name, grabbed my things and shoved them into my bag,” said Reilly, who appeared on MSNBC’s “All In with Chris Hayes” shortly after his release to recount the arrest. “He used his finger to put a pressure point on my neck.”
“They essentially acted as a military force. It was incredible,” Reilly said. “The worst part was he slammed my head against the glass purposefully on the way out of McDonald’s and then sarcastically apologized for it.”
The reporters were released?unharmed, but they and the rest of us are alarmed and shocked that this could even occur. Whether or not the officers knew they were arresting reporters is unknown, but as Reilly says, “that really shouldn’t matter in this equation.”
When the Huffington Post called the Ferguson Police Department to find out what was going on, the person who answered the phone (a man named George) said that he couldn’t give out information at that time. “George” mumbled his last name and hung up when asked to spell it.
You can follow the entire occurrence via Lowery and Reilly’s tweets below.
SWAT just invade McDonald's where I'm working/recharging. Asked for ID when I took photo. pic.twitter.com/FOIsMnBwHy
— Ryan J. Reilly (@ryanjreilly) August 13, 2014
@HuffingtonPost reporter @ryanjreilly arrested when police closed Ferguson McDonalds. #MikeBrown #Ferguson pic.twitter.com/rAz2A8eu31
— Robert Cohen (@kodacohen) August 14, 2014
Police come into McD where me and @ryanjreilly working. Try to kick everyone out.
— Wesley Lowery (@WesleyLowery) August 13, 2014
"We cannot guarantee your safety. We will not be answering 911 calls"
— Wesley Lowery (@WesleyLowery) August 13, 2014
Well, @WesleyLowery and I have been released. That was an experience.
— Ryan J. Reilly (@ryanjreilly) August 14, 2014
Another Huffington Post reporter was hit with tear grass on Wednesday night. Christine Conetta tweeted:
Just got hit with tear gas, hard to see or breathe. #ferguson
— Conetta (@BmoreConetta) August 14, 2014
Al Jazeera America news crews found themselves in the “line of fire” when police fired tear gas into their reporting position.
Al Jazeera TV crew scrambles for cover as police fire tear gas into their reporting position in #Ferguson | AP Photo pic.twitter.com/FIy6qMtHiZ
— Brandon Wall (@Walldo) August 14, 2014
This video shows more:
Police even had the nerve to fire tear gas near the Al Jazeera crew and then disassemble the photographers’ gear when they fled.
PHOTOS: Police fire tear gas near Al Jazeera crew, then disassemble the gear after they flee. #Ferguson pic.twitter.com/It5FOxVWhB
— Cassidy Moody (@CassFM) August 14, 2014
Journalist Jon Swaine was able to capture a Vine of being threatened by police.
The protests have been going on every night since Brown was shot and police are using?pepper spray, rubber bullets, and tear gas to attempt to control the?protesters. Read more at Huffington Post.
Let us know your thoughts at the Liberal America Facebook page. Sign up for our free daily newsletter to receive more great stories like this one.
Tiffany Willis is the founder and editor-in-chief of Liberal America. An unapologetic member of the Christian Left, she has spent most of her career actively working with ?the least of these? and disadvantaged and oppressed populations. She’s passionate about their struggles. To stay on top of topics she discusses,?like her?Facebook page,?follow her on Twitter, or?connect with her via LinkedIn. She also has?a?grossly neglected personal blog?and a?literary quotes blog that is a labor of love. Find her somewhere and join the discussion.
