Statement from The Deadline Club about the arrests of journalists at OWS

The Deadline Club condemns the actions of the New York Police Department in detaining journalists who were covering the Occupy Wall Street protests on Tuesday, Nov. 15 and on Thursday, Nov. 17, 2011. As the New York City chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists, the Deadline Club believes that a free press is a cornerstone of our democracy and opposes any police interference with journalists in the lawful pursuance of their reporting. We urge that any journalists who are in custody be released and that any charges against the detained journalists be dropped immediately.

NYT: NYPD Stops Reporters with Badges and Fists

The National Press Photographers Association also condemns police targeting OWS journalists.

The Society of Professional Journalists has condemned the actions of the NYPD and police agencies in other cities targeting journalists at OWS protests.

The New York Press Club is following the status of arrested reporters, most of whom have been released without charges.