The Coalition For Women In Journalism calls for immediate and transparent actions to address and rectify the mistreatment of journalists

Location: United States, Los Angeles

Date: May 9, 2022

The Coalition For Women In Journalism supports Kathleen Gallagher and Jonathan Peltz, who filed a lawsuit against the city of Los Angeles. Gallagher and Peltz's experience during the Echo Park protest in March 2021 is a stark reminder of the risks journalists face while covering stories that are vital to the public interest. Despite clearly identifying themselves as journalists, they were arrested, detained for hours, and treated as criminals for simply doing their job. This is unacceptable, and their lawsuit is a step toward holding the Los Angeles Police Department accountable for its actions. The fact that these journalists were from Knock LA, a non-traditional media outlet, suggests a discriminatory bias against reporters who are not part of larger, mainstream organizations. This is particularly concerning for the Coalition For Women In Journalism, as it reflects ongoing challenges faced by minority and independent journalists who often bring essential perspectives to the forefront of public discourse. We urge the Los Angeles Police Department to adhere to its own policies regarding the treatment of journalists during protests and to respect the constitutional rights afforded to all media personnel. Further, we call for immediate and transparent actions to address and rectify the mistreatment of journalists, ensuring such abuses do not recur.

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Two journalists have filed a lawsuit against the city of Los Angeles, alleging violations of their constitutional rights following their arrests at an Echo Park protest last year. Kathleen Gallagher and Jonathan Peltz, reporters for the online publication Knock LA, claim they were wrongfully detained while covering a demonstration against the displacement of a homeless encampment on March 25, 2021.

“I’ve never understood what their decision on that was,” Peltz said in an interview with The Times Monday.

“They knew we were journalists. That was unambiguous to the officers who arrested us,” Gallagher said in a separate interview with The Times.

The protest, which took place by Echo Park Lake, saw Los Angeles police declaring the assembly unlawful, encircling the crowd, and subsequently arresting several individuals, including journalists. While other media personnel like Times reporter James Queally and Spectrum News’ Kate Cagle were released on-site, Peltz and Gallagher were taken into custody.

According to their lawsuit, the two journalists were clearly identified as members of the press, yet were arrested and faced hours of detention alongside protesters, some of whom were not properly masked against COVID-19. Peltz later sought medical attention for injuries sustained from the restraints used during his arrest.

Their legal action, supported by a UC Irvine law clinic, argues that their arrests are part of a broader pattern of behavior by the LAPD towards journalists, particularly those from non-mainstream outlets. They claim this mistreatment is both a violation of LAPD’s internal policies and an infringement of their First Amendment rights.

The LAPD has yet to comment on the pending litigation. This lawsuit emerges amid growing concerns about police conduct towards the press, especially during public demonstrations. Recent advocacy efforts have led to the passage of SB 98 in California, aimed at bolstering protections for journalists covering protests.

The Coalition For Women In Journalism stands in full support of Kathleen Gallagher and her colleague Jonathan Peltz in their lawsuit against the city of Los Angeles. Their legal battle is not just about rectifying personal grievances, but it’s a critical fight for the rights of all journalists, especially those from non-mainstream media outlets who face disproportionate challenges in the field. Kathleen Gallagher and Jonathan Peltz were arrested under circumstances that highlight severe issues within the treatment of press members by law enforcement. We demand that the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) acknowledges the missteps in their handling of journalists during the Echo Park protest and offers redress for the violations of Kathleen and Jonathan's First Amendment rights. Their treatment as criminals, despite clear identification as journalists, is unacceptable. 

Women Press Freedom is an initiative by The Coalition For Women In Journalism

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.

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