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Anadolu Agency journalist & civil liberties group sue US police

American Civil Liberties Union files a lawsuit on behalf of Bilgin Sasmaz, who was injured and detained by police while covering protests in Ferguson, Missouri.

11.11.2014 - Update : 11.11.2014
Anadolu Agency journalist & civil liberties group sue US police

By Mustafa Caglayan

NEW YORK 

An Anadolu Agency journalist’s First Amendment rights of free speech and freedom of the press were violated while covering protests in Ferguson, Missouri, a lawsuit charged Monday.

The American Civil Liberties Union, or ACLU, filed the lawsuit against the St. Louis County police on behalf of Turkish journalist Bilgin Sasmaz, who was injured and detained by police Aug. 17 while covering protests that followed the shooting death of unarmed black teen Michael Brown by white Ferguson police officer Darren Wilson.

The lawsuit claims that an unidentified St. Louis County police officer threw Sasmaz to the ground, violently pushed his face and body into the pavement and handcuffed him, because he was taking photographs of the protests and the subsequent police reaction.

The lawsuit also claims that the officer arrested Sasmaz although he clearly identified himself as a member of the media by repeatedly shouting, "Press! Press!"

Sasmaz’s equipment, including camera, flash, and lens sustained damage during his arrest and detainment, according to the lawsuit.

In addition to the claims against the police officer, Sasmaz and the ACLU are also seeking judgment against St. Louis County "for its failure to train and supervise" the defendant.

In video footage released shortly after his detention, an officer could be seen threatening Sasmaz.

Reporters from CNN, Al Jazeera America and other media outlets also reported being harassed or physically threatened by Ferguson police.

The lawsuit says many white reporters and photographers reporting the protests alongside Sasmaz were not arrested, although the Turkish journalist "was not any closer to the protestors, or the interactions between police and protestors, than any other member of the media, including other photographers." Sasmaz is of Middle Eastern descent, according to the lawsuit.

"Plaintiff was photographing Ray Albers, a St. Ann police officer, pointing his weapon at protestors and yelling that he was going to kill them. [He] followed Albers and continued to report on his actions," it says.

The Aug. 9 shooting death of 18-year-old Michael Brown triggered weeks of intense protests, with sometimes violent clashes erupting between police and protesters.

A grand jury is expected decide as soon as Friday whether the case will go to trial, with fears mounting that the violent clashes previously seen on the streets of the St. Louis suburb could return should it fail to issue an indictment.

According to human rights group Amnesty International, police in Ferguson committed human rights abuses while handling the protests in the wake of Brown’s death.

“The U.S. government must do much more to address systemic racial discrimination and ensure policing practices nationwide are brought into line with international human rights standards,” it said in an Oct. 24 report.

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