Journalists Concerned About Convention Arrests

The Society of Professional Journalists expressed "outrage" over arrests at both the Democratic and Republican National Conventions. SPJ President Clint Brewer said the group was not condemning the actions of police in maintaining public safety when the demonstrations became violent, but it was "disturbed" that the police "blurred the line between protestors and journalists" -- a line he suggested should not have been hard to distinguish. The SPJ said the incidents in Denver and Minneapolis "represent an unacceptable infringement of the rights of journalists and, ultimately, a disservice to the public." The National Association of Hispanic Journalists also denounced the arrest of journalists.