Breaking: CNN team arrested by Minnesota police on live television

[pnwmom]

Source: CNN

CNN journalist Omar Jimenez has been taken into police custody during a live broadcast at the site of the protests in Minneapolis, after clearly identifying himself to officers.

Jimenez's crew, including a producer and a camera operator, were also placed in handcuffs.

The CNN camera was also taken into custody and continued to record as the crew was handcuffed, with police seemingly unaware that the camera was still on.




Read more: https://www.cnn.com/us/live-news/george-floyd-protest-updates-05-28-20/index.html

---

Reporter on TV: "CNN crew arrested inexplicably for just doing their job. This was just a standard assignment. This is what we do."

Link to tweet

THE CAMERA IS STILL ROLLING EVEN AFTER THE REPORTERS HAVE BEEN ARRESTED AND TAKEN AWAY:

https://go.cnn.com/?streamcnn


ON UPDATE:

A CNN commentator is pointing out that a second CNN crew led by a WHITE reporter is still on site. The reporter arrested (with his crew) is a person of color.

[donkeypoofed]

1. Asshole Minneapolis cops

Ya think they'd be trying to be decent people now, wouldn't you?!?!

[brooklynite]

7. This wasn't Minneapolis Police; it was State Police.

[Cha]

2. KR!

[PunkinPi]

4. CNN just issued this statement...

Link to tweet

A CNN reporter & his production team were arrested this morning in Minneapolis for doing their jobs, despite identifying themselves - a clear violation of their First Amendment rights. The authorities in Minnesota, incl. the Governor, must release the 3 CNN employees immediately.

[pnwmom]

5. Thank you!

[PunkinPi]

6. You're welcome. nt

[Dustlawyer]

21. Must be Trump supporting cops who swallowed the whole "CNN is fake news" crap.

[McKim]

23. That's Why this is a Major Event in Freedom of the Press

This is way bigger than just a screw up by some cops. This is a message from the Far Right that threatens all journalists with arrest. Trump had been very hostile to CNN very publicly. There will be a row over this in the courts, I hope!

[FM123]

24. Exactly what you said!

[mahatmakanejeeves]

8. John Chancellor arrested at 1964 Republican convention on live television

Scroll to 1:55. Thank for the link, Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

NBC 1996 July 12 John Chancellor Retrospective
8,956 views•Mar 2, 2013

danf62465
1.79K subscribers

NBC 1996 July 12 John Chancellor Retrospective

[Alacritous Crier]

9. This is absolute madness!

Trump is driving this nation into the ground just like everything else he has ever touched. He's even tweeting inflammatory propaganda to further sow discord while the nation burns.

He is pure evil! ...and that is not hyperbole.

[ResistantAmerican17]

10. Twitler must be giddy with joy right now.

[3Hotdogs]

11. Whad'ya figure? $50k each for violation of rights and loss of income?

[FakeNoose]

12. The state police would not have made this mistake

... if the CNN reporter had been a WHITE GUY in a coat and tie, and also not wearing a facemask. I can't tell in the video but it looks like reporter Omar Jimenez isn't wearing an ID credential or a CNN logo on his clothing.

On the other hand, if the police did understand that the reporter had a right to be there and he was doing his job, then this is all for show on camera. The cops wanted to send a message for the folks watching at home.

[pnwmom]

13. The reporter could be seen identifying himself on the video, and he was clearly part of CNN's team.

[FakeNoose]

15. Yes, so it was intentional behavior by the state cops

[obamanut2012]

22. He obviously has his ID clipped onto his clothes

It is clearly visible.

[mahannah]

14. Good for the camera op not turning off the machine.

[Maxheader]

16. Stumpy hit team..

Trained by the White House, per stumpy's orders..

Sorry dementia boy...I don't need no stinging press to tell me what a piss ant

you are..

[Maeve]

17. He has been released

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz (D) soon apologized for the incident, calling it “totally unacceptable,” according to CNN. Jimenez was released little more than an hour later, though it was unclear if his colleagues were still detained.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2020/05/28/minneapolis-protests-george-floyd-death/#link-5U334QK7WVB2XNOXEJRTIR7BD4

[NutmegYankee]

18. If it's really "Totally unacceptable", then fire the Officers.

[AllyCat]

20. Yes. They only targeted him because he and his crew were POC

Sorry is great. Fire them and make them defend themselves against the coming lawsuit for violating their first amendment rights.

[DBoon]

29. I bet being CNN also had something to do with it

With all the attacks on CNN as "Fake News", I bet Trump loving cops had no problem arresting them

[Marthe48]

19. The cops need to be relieved of duty

The cops who killed Mr. Floyd. The state troopers who arrested the CNN crew. The first group are out of control and have abused their positions as law enforcement. The second are incompetent. If they thought they were acting within the rule of law, they need to go back to training and get it right.

If elected officials want to minimize the effect of yet another citizen killed by a cop, they are doing everything wrong.

[Evergreen Emerald]

25. I wonder if there was audio on the recording.

The camera continued to record after the arrests. Sometimes there are mics on the camera. I wonder if there was audio...it would be interesting to see what the police were saying when they did not know they were being recorded.

[cstanleytech]

27. The officers that arrested them and the ones that ordered it should be fired.

[palandrome]

28. No special rights for the press

To be fair, there are no special rights or protections for the press to be in any particular location.

If the police tell you to move, you have to move, doesnt matter if you work for CNN, Fox News, the local newspaper or you blog from your mom's basement. You cant ignore police orders if you are "press". Pretty simple.

Looks as if the crew were the only ones in an area that was being cleared by the police as they were telling everyone to leave, and the crew did not leave. We dont know the exact fact pattern here, but you can hear the police announcing that everyone in the area is to leave, and yet the crew is still there.

[Bengus81]

30. That's exactly WHY the CNN reporter asked those State Police over and over where they wanted them

So...you watched the video?? CNN reporter asked them over and over and also explained that they were doing a segment in the street when the State Police came up behind them. So...tell us where to move to and we'll go--and that was after they CLEARLY showed those asshats their CNN credentials.

Nope...Jackboots decided they needed to be arrested for "something". Meanwhile the murders of Floyd are still setting around free men.

[palandrome]

32. Please post a link to the video with the reporter asking the police where they should be.

Yes I have watched the video in the OP. at no time did the reporters ask the police where they wanted them.

What I did hear is the police telling EVERYONE to leave the area.

"Showing credentials" means nothing. As I mentioned, there is no "special pass" for press. Doesnt matter if you are "press", if the police ask you to leave and you dont, you are subject to arrest. 2nd time it has been stated.

[Bengus81]

33. A link,HELL it was live on CNN, now on there as a video

The video on the link here is NARRATED,not all the live video from the reporter. Go to CNN.com and watch the video. The reporter asked repeatedly where they wanted them to be. I saw it live and then watched it again on CNN.com.

[palandrome]

34. I have watched it. 2nd time it has been said

The video in the OP is 45 seconds long. At no point in that video does the reporter ask the police "where they need to be"...

here is what he said...

"Unit that was advancing up the street. Saying, and scattering the potesters at that point for people to clear the area and so we walked away... I'm sorry, OK. Do you mind telling me why I am under arrest sir? Why am I under arrest sir?"


That is all. Nowhere in there does he ask the police "where do I need to be".

I'd LOVE to watch the video where the reporter asks where they need to be. "Go to CNN" isnt an answer. Please post a link to it so we ALL can see/hear what you claim was said/done.


and here is a tip... even IF the reporter did aks "where do we need to be"... the answer was obviously, "NOT HERE" and they did not follow that order. Again... 3rd time it has been said, had "press credentials" mean exactly NOTHING when the police tell you to leave.

[Bengus81]

35. Go to CNN isn't an answer because you don't want it to be an answer.

You've never watched the video on CNN because for some reason you don't want too. If your on DU then CNN.com is just a click away. I've now TOLD you 2-3 times they were where they were BEFORE the State Police moved toward them and they were at a point they were TOLD they could be. GET IT?? They weren't violating jack shit.

Credentials means that CNN could be doing video on that street,they are the PRESS not just random individuals. They were on that street before the State police came up behind them--again that's in the video. When they were surrounded by State cops because of other activity (CNN had their back to them) the reporter showed him his credentials and said where they were was where they were TOLD they could be. So...they simply asked those JACK BOOTS where they NOW wanted them.

They would have moved anywhere but were instead arrested. You act like they were doing something wrong by reporting FACTS, but that's why Trump hates CNN. But you already knew that.

[palandrome]

37. I want the answer

But I'm not going to dig through the entirety of the largest news website in the world to find something YOU assert exists.

I dont know where to find the video. Give a link. 3rd time it has been asked.


"Credentials means that CNN could be doing video on that street,they are the PRESS not just random individuals. "

No it does not. A card with PRESS or CNN printed on it mean exactly NOTHING when a law enforcement officer orders you to do something. 4th time it has been said. Just because you are "journalist" you dont get to ignore police orders. VERY VERY simple concept.

[Flaleftist]

38. Here you go. It took me two seconds to find it.

Last edited Sun May 31, 2020, 11:50 PM - Edit history (1)

These are quotes from the reporter to the police before they arrested him:

"We can move back to where you'd like"
"Put us back where you want us. We are getting out of your way. Just let us know"
"Wherever you want us we will go."


https://www.cnn.com/2020/05/29/us/minneapolis-cnn-crew-arrested/index.html

[palandrome]

40. thats awsome

AS the reporter is getting arrested for not leaving he asks "We can move back to there you'd like".

Too late.

Again... carrying some card you printed up that says "press pass" doesnt mean you can ignore police orders during a deadly riot.

there is no law that says "the press" acan ignore the police

[Flaleftist]

41. They arrested him after he offered to move.

It's clear they did fuck up because he was released about an hour later with no charges. Stupid waste of time by stupid cops.

[palandrome]

43. He offered to move, AS they arrested him

Take a look at the video... see anyone else around? No?

they all left because the police were announcing in the BG, leave the area or get arrested. some random girl runs by, gets arrested. As that happens the crews gets surrounded, and arrested.

just mere seconds before he arrested he asks "where do you want us to be"... it seems pretty clear where to police wanted them to be, NOT THERE. They even have one officer announcing it for allllll to hear. But the crew thought it didnt apply to them. They were wrong. Being "press" does not mean you get to ignore police orders.

Notice ALL the people there that werent police, got arrested. So this isnt a "they arrested the press because the police didnt want anyone seeing what they were doing"... there was no one else there...

[pnwmom]

45. You OBVIOUSLY saw only a snipped at the end. The rest of us saw an exchange that lasted for minutes

where the mystified reporter and crew were surrounded, and very politely asking what the police wanted them to do. And the police just stood there -- for minutes, while the reporter kept asking.

And the answer wasn't clear, because the police had surrounded them and weren't pointing a way out.

And the governor has APOLOGIZED and said the officers were WRONG. Why did the governor apologize if the CNN team did anything wrong?

[ProfessorGAC]

50. Epic Fail!

You joined DU to make this specious point?
You wasted your own time & that of the folks here.
The FACTS are not in dispute.
The cops showed up. It was at that moment, not before, they were somewhere they shouldn't be.
They asked where they should go.
Told to back up.
More cops show up behind them.
Nowhere to go. They ask again. They got arrested.
FACTS!
I saw it happen live. Then I saw Omar interviewed the next day. His description was exactly what I saw.

[pnwmom]

47. Wrong. The CNN commentator said the reporter and crew were standing exactly where

they'd been told to stand. There are 6 minute long videos that show everything that you're ignoring.

And there's this, from that bastion of liberalism, the NY Times.

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/29/arts/television/cnn-arrest.html?action=click&module=Spotlight&pgtype=Homepage

It looked like world news footage from a police state. Mr. Jimenez, wearing a mask in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic, calmly negotiates with officers, visored and bunched in around the camera. He tells them they are live on the air, and he offers to get out of their way: “Put us back where you want us.”
He’s told, “You’re under arrest.”

He asks why and gets no answer. And he’s walked off, to the stunned play-by-play of the anchors in the CNN studio. (Mr. Jimenez is black and Latino. Notably, given the racial dynamics of the Minneapolis protests, a white CNN reporter also covering the story said he was treated much more politely.)

SNIP

The official explanation for the arrest was that the CNN crew refused to move on police orders, an absurdity given what the world saw and heard live. “I’ve never seen anything like this,” the network anchor John Berman said.

[Yeehah]

48. You are willfully ignorant and have no clue what you're talking about

This is still a free country and fuck all the cowardly assholes who don't stand up for it!

[Bengus81]

46. He never wanted to find it in the first place....

Wonder why?? Seems to not like CNN and their reporters. Again...Wonder why??

[pnwmom]

44. We were all watching it LIVE. The reporter very politely asked

where it was they would like them to go, and indicated over and over again that they wanted to comply.

And after the arrest the CNN commentator said the reporter and crew had been standing where the police had told them to stand, and had asked where the police wanted them to move to (which we could all hear.)

I think you should remove the wax from your ears and open your eyes and watch again.

[IronLionZion]

31. Things are happening that they don't want people to see

What are they hiding?

[BrightKnight]

36. Who gave the order and why?

No low level cop is going to arrest CNN reporter without an order. I am guessing that the order would have gone way up the chain. You could tell they were following orders when they did it.

Also, why did they wait so long to establish order?

[rockfordfile]

39. Some people should be investigated for this and then fired

[elias7]

42. And Cops caught in the Act of lying

That the crew disobeyed instructions

[ancianita]

49. Yep.