The protests in Ferguson have been cycling back and forth from peaceful demonstrations to violent outbursts involving tear gas and rubber bullets fired from police officers. The situation has prompted reporters from every crop: internet bloggers live tweeting the events and reporters from established media agencies. Just yesterday, a video clip from a live broadcast of the protests shows an officer threatening a reporter with violence.
Mustafa Hussien, a student who volunteers at a music station, was one such reporter from the smaller scale and was live-streaming the protests as law enforcement officers launched tear gas at demonstrators before the newly-instituted midnight curfew. During Hussein’s coverage, an officer threatened to shoot Hussein for exercising his First Amendment rights.
“Get the f*ck out of here. You get that light off or you’re getting shot with this,” exclaimed the officer.
Law enforcement has completely mishandled the Ferguson protests in every way imaginable. This militarized police state of the country has made it okay for police to murder unarmed suspects and to threaten the lives of reporters who are just doing their job.
Josh is a writer and researcher with Ring of Fire. Follow him on Twitter @dnJdeli.
