Police want to decide which journalists can cover the Delaney Hall protests. That’s not their job | Adam Rose
New Jersey police have been criticized for attempting to control which journalists can cover protests at Delaney Hall. This raises concerns about press freedoms and the First Amendment, as officers made arbitrary decisions about who qualifies as press. The situation highlights the challenges journalists face in documenting protests while ensuring their safety amidst police actions.
- ▪New Jersey state police blocked exits during protests, leading to confusion about press access.
- ▪Officers threatened journalists with arrest if they did not leave the area, questioning their press credentials.
- ▪The US Press Freedom Tracker reported numerous assaults on journalists by law enforcement during the protests.
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‘If an officer can point at them and say they are not press, the First Amendment ceases to have meaning.’ Photograph: Derek French/ZUMA Press Wire/ShutterstockView image in fullscreen‘If an officer can point at them and say they are not press, the First Amendment ceases to have meaning.’ Photograph: Derek French/ZUMA Press Wire/ShutterstockOpinionUS newsPolice want to decide which journalists can cover the Delaney Hall protests. That’s not their jobAdam RoseNew Jersey police must not deny streamers press freedomsWed 3 Jun 2026 06.00 EDTShareThe line of New Jersey state police blocked every exit on the street. Clear plastic riot shields covered helmet to knee.A few dozen people were stuck inside their formation, known as a kettle.
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Excerpt limited to ~120 words for fair-use compliance. The full article is at The Guardian — US.
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