WHYY reporter arrested while covering Philadelphia protest
WHYY education reporter Avi Wolfman-Arent said he identified himself to police as a journalist, but was arrested anyway and cited for failure to disperse.
4 years ago
A Delaware State Police vehicle is seen in a file photo. (Mark Eichmann/WHYY News)
A Black journalist was arrested while identifying himself as a reporter at a protest in Delaware and was later released.
A video of the arrest was streamed live by the Dover Post reporter, Andre Lamar, on the news outlet’s Facebook page. It shows protesters lying on the ground with their hand behind their backs as Lamar questions officers about why the arrests are happening.
Police then approach him and a struggle ensues as he shouts “I’m with the press!” multiple times. A group of officers continue the arrest and pick up his camera gear as the altercation is broadcast live on the social media network.
Lamar was one of more than 20 people arrested at the protests for obstructing traffic and blocking lanes on a highway in Camden, the Delaware State Police said in a statement Wednesday. Protesters disrupted traffic “to refocus people” and were blocking roads so others “can think about people like George Floyd,” Lamar said in another video explaining his arrest after he was released.
State police tweeted Wednesday they will support “citizens of Delaware with their rights to peaceful protest” and asked for the public’s patience as they investigate the arrests.
He was not charged with any crimes, state police said.
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